Maternal Vitamin D, Folate, and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Status and Bacterial Vaginosis during Pregnancy

Abstract EN

Objective.

To investigate associations among serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-OH-D), folate, omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio and bacterial vaginosis (BV) during pregnancy.

Methods.

Biospecimens and data were derived from a random sample (N=160) of women from the Nashville Birth Cohort.

We compared mean plasma nutrient concentrations for women with and without BV during pregnancy (based on Nugent score ≥7) and assessed the odds of BV for those with 25-OH-D <12 ng/mL, folate <5 ug/L, and omega-6/omega-3 ratio >15.

Results.

The mean plasma 25-OH-D was significantly lower among women with BV during pregnancy (18.00 ± 8.14 ng/mL versus 24.34 ± 11.97 ng/mL, P=0.044).

The adjusted odds of BV were significantly increased among pregnant women with 25-OH-D <12 ng/mL (aOR 5.11, 95% CI: 1.19–21.97) and folate <5 ug/L (aOR 7.06, 95% CI: 1.07–54.05).

Conclusion.

Vitamin D and folate deficiencies were strongly associated with BV (Nugent score ≥7) during pregnancy.