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Vitamin D levels in pregnant women in relation to solar radiation and the season of the year. analytical cross-sectional study

Ana María Rojas Carvajal1★, María José Aguilar Cordero2, Antonio Magán Fernández3, Jose Luís Gallo Vallejo4, Sebastian Alfonso Miranda-Piña5, María José Rodríguez Becerra6, Ana María Nuñez Negrillo7, Jessica Pamela Noack Segovia8★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Nutritionist, PhD Student, Public Health and clinic medicine program, Granada, Spain; Research Group CTS-367, University of Granada, SPAIN.
  2. 2Research Group CTS-367, University of Granada, Spain; Department of Nursing, University of Granada, University Hospital Complex of Granada, SPAIN.
  3. 3Department of Stomatology, Research Group CTS-583, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, SPAIN.
  4. 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, SPAIN.
  5. 5Surgery Doctor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medicine, Autonomous University of Chile, CHILE.
  6. 6Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Maule; PhD in Science, Professor of Chemistry, CHILE.
  7. 7Research Group CTS-367, University of Granada, Spain; Department of Nursing, University of Granada, University Hospital Complex of Granada, SPAIN.
  8. 8Department of Nursing, University of Santo Tomás, Talca, CHILE.

CORRESPONDENCE

Ana María Rojas Carvajal

Nutritionist, PhD Student, Public Health and clinic medicine program, Granada, Spain; Research Group CTS-367, University of Granada, SPAIN.

anarojas@correo.ugr.es

Received: 14-04-2026; Accepted: 03-06-2026.

Volume 24, Issue 3 · pp. 3654 · PUBLISHED 2026 · DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2026.3.3654

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ABSTRACT

Background/objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is a health problem for pregnant women. Currently, there is controversy about the optimal levels of 25(OH)D, despite knowing its relationship with possible adverse maternal-fetal outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the serum concentration of 25(OH)D during the first trimester of gestation in relation to solar radiation and the season of the year in women treated at the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital in Granada, Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out for 2 years, in which 500 pregnant women were recruited following the STROBE methodology, and from whom a blood sample was extracted during the first trimester of pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were carried out for the entire population, compared between groups and, finally, a multivariate analysis was carried out. Results: The results obtained show an average concentration of 25(OH)D, higher in summer (25.7 ng/ml), although 91.5% of pregnant women did not achieve optimal levels in that season. A significant association was also observed between vitamin D levels and season (0.001); however, there was no association with higher average monthly maximum radiation and increased probability of having optimal vitamin D levels, showing an irrelevant association with solar radiation. Furthermore, the results show that the risk of sun exposure is not associated with the probability of achieving optimal vitamin D levels. Conclusions: These results indicate a generalized vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women; therefore, it is advisable to evaluate the current recommendations for daily sun exposure, as well as to evaluate a standard supplementation protocol in these women.

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    Carvajal, A. M. R., Cordero, M. J. A., Fernández, A. M., Vallejo, J. L. G., Miranda-Piña, S. A., Becerra, M. J. R., Negrillo, A. M. N., & Segovia, J. P. N. (2026). Vitamin D levels in pregnant women in relation to solar radiation and the season of the year. analytical cross-sectional study. Pharmacy Practice, 24(3), 3654. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2026.3.3654