Low vitamin D status has been associated with unfavourable health outcomes in both infants and adults. Besides the well-known effects of vitamin D on bone metabolism, low vitamin D status in adults has been associated with an increased risk of developing many chronic diseases( 1 , Reference Holick 2 ). In infants, low maternal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) during pregnancy have been associated with neonatal hypocalcaemia, osteopaenia and slow statural growth during the 1st year of life( Reference Salle, Delvin and Lapillonne 3 ). At birth, infants’ vitamin D status is totally dependent on maternal serum concentrations of vitamin D( 1 , Reference Salle, Delvin and Lapillonne 3 ). The vitamin D content of breast milk is also dependent on maternal serum 25(OH)D concentrations( 1 ), but the content in breast milk is low, between 0·1 and 3·4 µg/l of vitamin D, depending on the season( 4 ). Changes in maternal vitamin D status postpartum and the role of lactation have been sparsely studied thus far.
The international recommendation from the WHO is for women to exclusively breast-feed their infants for the first 6 months postpartum, and to continue breast-feeding as a complement to solid foods until the child is 2 years of age or older( Reference Horta, Martines and Victoria 5 ). The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations are consistent with the WHO recommendations( 1 ). The definition of exclusive breast-feeding is that the infant is given no other food or liquids other than breast milk, with the exception of additional vitamins, minerals and medications( Reference Horta, Martines and Victoria 5 ). During the first 5 months postpartum, Butte & King( Reference Butte and King 6 ) reported mean production of breast milk to be 749 g/d for women who were exclusively breast-feeding. For partial breast-feeding, the mean production of breast milk was 492 g/d during the first 2 years postpartum( Reference Butte and King 6 ).
All the Nordic countries have relatively high breast-feeding prevalences( 1 ). In Sweden, 81 % of women exclusively breast-feed at 1 week postpartum and 96 % breast-feed to some extent. Corresponding figures at 6 months postpartum are 15 and 63 %, respectively( 7 ). Given that women who are exclusively breast-feeding produce about 800 ml/d of breast milk and that they are breast-feeding for at least 6 months, the amount of vitamin D transferred from mother to child through breast milk during lactation may theoretically be large. This could have an impact on maternal vitamin D status. In Nordic countries, the recommended daily intake of vitamin D during lactation is the same as that for non-lactating women. This is because information about the association between vitamin D supplementation and health outcomes during lactation is limited and inconclusive( 1 ). Nevertheless, some suggest that there is increased maternal need for vitamin D during lactation( Reference Narchi, Kochiyil and Zayed 8 ).
Sources of vitamin D are diet, dietary supplements and through cutaneous production after UVB exposure( Reference Holick 2 ). In Sweden, the major dietary sources of vitamin D are fish, dairy products and spreads( 9 ). According to a recent Swedish National Survey, the mean dietary intake of vitamin D among women is 6·4 µg/d( 9 ). The Nordic Nutrition Recommendation is a daily intake of 10 µg of vitamin D in adults, also among lactating women, and considers some contribution of vitamin D from outdoor activities during the summer( 1 ). The recommendation from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in the USA and Canada is higher (15 µg/d), because sun exposure is not included in this calculation( 10 ). At northern latitudes, cutaneous production of vitamin D is not possible during winter, whereas below 35°North cutaneous production of vitamin D is possible all year round( Reference Tsiaras and Weinstock 11 ). Besides latitude and season, skin pigmentation, sunscreen use, clothing, age, obesity, dietary intake and supplement use are reported to be determinants of serum concentrations of 25(OH)D among non-pregnant and non-lactating women( Reference Holick 2 , Reference Tsiaras and Weinstock 11 – Reference Thuesen, Husemoen and Fenger 14 ).
The optimal vitamin D status is a matter of debate. The IOM regards concentrations of 25(OH)D >50 nmol/l as sufficient to optimise Ca absorption and bone mineral density and to avoid rickets and osteomalacia( 10 ). This cut-off is also regarded as sufficient in the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations ( 1 ). Concentration of 25(OH)D <30 nmol/l is regarded as deficiency, and concentration of 25(OH)D between 30 and 50 nmol/l is regarded as insufficiency( 1 , 10 ). Others have suggested that higher thresholds (70–80 nmol/l 25(OH)D) are necessary to reduce the risk of fractures( Reference Dawson-Hughes, Heaney and Holick 15 ).
Maternal vitamin D status during lactation has been sparsely studied thus far. Studies conducted on lactating mothers in Greece( Reference Challa, Ntourntoufi and Cholevas 16 ), Turkey( Reference Andiran, Yordam and Ozon 17 ), Poland( Reference Czech-Kowalska, Latka-Grot and Bulsiewicz 18 ), Shanghai( Reference Dawodu, Davidson and Woo 19 ), Mexico( Reference Dawodu, Davidson and Woo 19 ) and the USA( Reference Dawodu, Davidson and Woo 19 ) in the early postpartum period have found mean concentrations of 25(OH)D between 27 and 70 nmol/l, whereas a Swedish study conducted at 6–12 months postpartum observed serum 25(OH)D concentration of 53 nmol/l in Swedish-born women and 29 nmol/l in immigrant women( Reference Dahlman, Gerdhem and Bergstrom 20 ). There are very few studies on changes in maternal vitamin D status postpartum. A study from the United Arab Emirates observed a decrease in mean 25(OH)D during the first 6 months postpartum( Reference Narchi, Kochiyil and Zayed 8 ), whereas in a Danish study( Reference Møller, Streym and Heickendorff 21 ) mean concentrations of 25(OH)D at both 2 weeks and 9 months postpartum were approximately 60 nmol/l and did not differ depending on breast-feeding status. In addition, Specker et al.( Reference Specker, Tsang and Ho 22 ) observed no change in concentrations of 25(OH)D during the first 6 months postpartum in a study on lactating American mothers. Therefore, changes in vitamin D status postpartum have not been thoroughly studied and the results are inconsistent. In addition, the determinants of maternal vitamin D status postpartum, including lactation, have so far been scarcely studied.
The aims of this study were to determine the changes in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D between 2 weeks and 12 months postpartum in Swedish women and to specifically evaluate lactation and other determinants for changes in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D between 2 weeks and 12 months postpartum.
Methods
Subjects
A total of eighty-one women were enrolled to the study from July 2008 to July 2011 using posters in maternity healthcare clinics and in public places in the Gothenburg area, Sweden (lat 57–58°North), and through an advertisement on a Swedish webpage addressing pregnant women in Western Sweden. For this analysis, the seventy-eight women who had data from the whole 1st year postpartum were included. Inclusion criteria for the study were as follows: women aged between 25 and 40 years, pregnancy at gestational week 35–37 at the start of the study and women who declared themselves as healthy. Exclusion criteria for the study were as follows: pregnancy during the last 1·5 years before the start of the present pregnancy, miscarriage after week 12 of pregnancy during the last 1·5 years, breast-feeding during the last year before the start of the present pregnancy, twin pregnancy and development of gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki, and all procedures involving human subjects were approved by the Regional Ethics Committee in Gothenburg. Written informed consent was obtained from all the women.
Study design
All women visited the Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, at baseline (2 weeks after delivery) and 12 months thereafter. Additional data were also collected at 4 months postpartum. At all visits, venous blood was drawn in the morning after an overnight fast, and body weight with only underwear (Tanita, BWB-800MA; Rex Frederiksbergs Vaegtfabrik) and height (standardised wall stadiometer) were measured. Information about lactation habits, use of vitamin D supplements and use of oestrogen contraceptives was also collected at all three visits. At baseline, women were further asked questions about their skin type and travels to southern latitudes. Information about smoking habits was collected at baseline and at 12 months postpartum. In addition, at 4 months postpartum, women were asked questions about sun preference. Four-day food diaries and information about physical activity level (PAL) were collected at 4 and 12 months postpartum.
Methods
Detailed information about lactation habits was collected from all lactating women, including number of lactation sessions per day, number and amount of formula feedings per day, date of introduction of solid foods and daily amount of solid foods given. Women were asked to record the date of their last lactation. Total lactation refers to any extent of lactation, and was defined as full lactation when ≥90 % of the infants’ daily energy intake came from breast milk.
Estimates of sun exposure included questions regarding preference for sun or shade when outdoors in summer (always in the sun, both sun and shade or always in the shade) according to the method of Burgaz et al.( Reference Burgaz, Akesson and Oster 13 ), as previously described( Reference Brembeck, Winkvist and Olausson 23 ). Winter included months from November to April (=1) and summer included months from May to October (=2). Women were also asked to report travels to southern latitudes during the previous 6 months before baseline. Southern latitude was defined as a location below latitude 35°N, where cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D is possible all year round( Reference Tsiaras and Weinstock 11 ). Skin types were defined using the Fitzpatrick scale (I=always burns, never tans, II=usually burns, tans with difficulty, III=sometimes burns mildly, tans gradually, IV=rarely burns, tans easily)( Reference Astner and Anderson 24 ).
Dietary intake of vitamin D was estimated using 4-d food diaries at 4 and 12 months postpartum, as described elsewhere( Reference Brembeck, Winkvist and Olausson 23 ). Women were asked to record all food and drinks consumed as precisely as possible on 4 consecutive days with at least 1 non-working day and a preferred start no later than 1 week after the study visit. Both oral information and written information on how to fill in the food diary were given. Women were asked to report the amounts of food items consumed using household measures, weight in g or using photographs of different portion sizes used in the Swedish portion guide ‘Matmallen’( 25 ). Women were also asked not to change their diet. Women were contacted if any ambiguities were noted in their foods diaries. Dietary intake was calculated using Dietist XP, version 3.1 (The National Food Agency food database version 2009-11-10; Kost och näringsdata). Details of use, frequency, amount and brand of supplements containing vitamin D were also requested at baseline and at 4 and 12 months postpartum.
Each woman rated her physical activity on a scale between 1 and 10, as previously described( Reference Brembeck, Winkvist and Olausson 23 ). Women were informed that 1 indicated a sedentary lifestyle, 5 a few long walks each week and 10 exercise several times a week. The answer was converted to a PAL, where 1 corresponded to PAL 1·3 and 10 to PAL 2·2, respectively. In a validation study, PAL assessed using this scale was correlated (r 0·54; P=0·008) with corresponding estimates obtained using criterion methods (i.e. the doubly-labelled water method in combination with indirect calorimetry) in twenty-two healthy Swedish pregnant women (M Löf, personal communication).
Laboratory analyses
Blood samples were protected from UVB light and centrifuged within 45 min after sampling at 5°C, 3800 g , for 9 min (Centrifuge CR3i, Jouan Quality System; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.). Serum samples were then aliquoted and stored at −70°C until analysed. The analyses of serum concentrations of 25(OH)D were performed at the Central Laboratory in Malmö, Sweden. The analyses were performed in batches using liquid chromatography MS/MS (Mass spectrometer API 400; AB Sciex). The method has a measuring range of 6–450 nmol/l for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and an inter-CV of 6 % at 40 nmol/l.
Statistical analyses
All values are presented as mean values and standard deviations, if not otherwise specified. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations at baseline, at 12 months postpartum and change in 25(OH)D concentrations between baseline and 12 months postpartum were all normally distributed.
Differences in means of serum 25(OH)D at baseline and at 12 months postpartum were analysed using paired sample t test. Individual changes in serum 25(OH)D concentrations between baseline and 12 months postpartum were calculated as the value at 12 months postpartum minus the value at baseline. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to evaluate changes in serum 25(OH)D concentrations over time (between baseline, 4 and 12 months postpartum) and changes in dietary vitamin D intake between 4 and 12 months postpartum. This statistical method was used both for the whole study population and for the populations split according to different lactation categories based on the duration of total lactation: 0–3·9, 4–8·9 and ≥9 months.
Univariable linear regression was used to evaluate associations between possible determinants and changes in serum 25(OH)D between baseline and 12 months postpartum. The possible determinants were duration of full lactation, duration of total lactation, baseline serum 25(OH)D, season at baseline, use of vitamin D supplements at baseline, dietary intake of vitamin D at 4 months postpartum, change in dietary intake of vitamin D (12 months minus 4 months postpartum), use of oestrogen contraceptives at 4 months postpartum, travels to southern latitudes before baseline, preference for sun or shadow at 4 months postpartum, age, height, body weight at baseline, change in body weight (12 months postpartum minus baseline), PAL at 4 months postpartum and change in PAL (12 months minus 4 months postpartum). In the regression analyses, dietary vitamin D intake, use of hormonal contraceptives containing oestrogen, PAL and sun preference at 4 months postpartum were included, as this time point more accurately reflects the actual situation during the first 4 months postpartum than do the values at baseline. Significant determinants in the univariable regression model were further explored and visualised using paired t test of differences in means of serum 25(OH)D at baseline and 12 months postpartum for each level of the determinant. Different durations of lactation were analysed in this manner, as lactation was the main determinant to be investigated. For pair-wise comparisons with n<20, Wilcoxon’s signed rank test was used.
To identify variables that best determined changes in serum 25(OH)D during the 1st year postpartum, duration of total lactation and the variables found to be significant in the univariable linear regression analysis were entered into multivariable regression analyses. Owing to significant collinearity between season at baseline and serum 25(OH)D at baseline, only season was used in the multivariable regression analysis, as season was assumed to be the underlying predictor. Associations between serum 25(OH)D at baseline and season at baseline were analysed using a linear regression model. As season is known to be one of the major determinants of serum 25(OH)D( Reference Tsiaras and Weinstock 11 ), interactions were analysed between season and each of the determinants found to be significant in the univariable regression analyses.
A two-tailed α-value of 0·05 was used as the significance level. All the analyses were carried out using SPSS Statistics Software, version 22.0 (IBM).
Results
All women were fair-skinned and Swedish-speaking. At baseline, the mean age of the seventy-eight women was 32·9 (sd 3·4) years and mean height was 168·5 (sd 6·3) cm. Their mean body weight was 70·2 (sd 9·4) kg and mean BMI was 24·8 (sd 3·1) kg/m2. At 12 months postpartum, mean body weight was 65·3 (sd 8·9) kg and mean BMI was 23·1 (sd 3·0) kg/m2. Mean body weight change between 2 weeks and 12 months postpartum was −5·3 (sd 4·3) kg (P=0·000). Parity ranged from 0 to 2, and half of the women were nulliparous. In total, 79 % of the women had studied for at least 3 years at university level. None of the women were smoking at baseline, and 4 % of them smoked at 12 months postpartum. None of the women were using oestrogen contraceptives at baseline, 5 % at 4 months postpartum and 8 % at 12 months postpartum.
Median duration of full lactation was 5·0 (Q1–Q3 3·0–6·1) months, and the median duration of total lactation was 8·1 (Q1–Q3 6·8–10·4) months. At 2 weeks postpartum, 91 % of the women were fully lactating and 99 % were lactating to some extent. At 4 months postpartum, 69 % of the women were fully lactating and 87 % were lactating to some extent. At 12 months postpartum, none of the women were fully lactating and 17 % of the women were lactating to some extent.
Table 1 shows the means of vitamin D status, dietary intake and supplement use during the 1st year postpartum. There was no significant change in serum 25(OH)D (−0·2 (sd 15) nmol/l) concentrations between baseline and 12 months postpartum (range in change −33 to +38 nmol/l) (Fig. 1). Repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant change in serum 25(OH)D concentration over time (P=0·048). No significant interaction was found between change in serum 25(OH)D concentration over time and lactation category. At baseline, 24 % of the women had serum 25(OH)D concentrations <50 nmol/l and 69 % had serum 25(OH)D concentrations <75 nmol/l. Table 2 shows the percentages of women with serum 25(OH)D concentrations <30, <50 and <75 nmol/l and the variation between summer and winter. The majority of women, 76 % (n 59), remained in the same category of vitamin D status (<30, 30–50, ≥50 nmol/l) at 12 months postpartum as they were at baseline. Of the remaining women, half were cross-categorised from insufficient to sufficient and half were cross-categorised in the opposite direction
Fig. 1 Change in serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D between baseline (2 weeks postpartum) and 12 months postpartum, as analysed with the paired sample t test.
Table 1 Vitamin D status, dietary intake and supplement use in the participating women (Mean values and standard deviations)
25(OH)D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
*P<0·05, significant change in serum 25(OH)D concentration over time, as analysed with repeated-measures ANOVA.
† Repeated-measures ANOVA tested changes over time.
‡ Number of women who completed food diaries=73 at 12 months postpartum.
§ Number of women using vitamin D supplement at 2 weeks (twenty-nine), 4 months (twenty-four) and 12 months (fourteen) postpartum.
Table 2 Percentages of women with serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <30, 50 and 75 nmol/l at baseline and 12 months postpartum, respectively (Numbers and percentages)
* Baseline was at 2 weeks postpartum.
† Winter was defined as November to April.
‡ Summer was defined as May to October.
Mean total intake of vitamin D, including both diet and supplements, was 8·1 (sd 5·1) µg/d at 4 months postpartum and 7·4 (sd 6·7) µg/d at 12 months postpartum. Mean dietary vitamin D intake and intake from supplements are shown separately in Table 1. No change in dietary vitamin D intake over time was observed. At baseline, 37 % of the women were using vitamin D-containing supplements, but only 18 % used supplements at 12 months postpartum.
Significant determinants for the change in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D between baseline and 12 months postpartum in univariable linear regression analyses were as follows: travels to southern latitudes during the last 6 months before the baseline measurement (P=0·030), use of oestrogen contraceptives at 4 months postpartum (P=0·001), use of vitamin D supplements at baseline (P=0·019), age (P=0·008), serum 25(OH)D concentrations at baseline (P=0·000) and season at baseline (P=0·003) (Table 3). Duration of full or total lactation was not associated with the changes in mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations during the 1st year postpartum.
Table 3 Univariable and multivariable linear regression investigating lactation and other determinants of changes in serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) between 2 weeks and 12 months postpartum (β-Coefficients, standard errors and coefficient of determination)
PAL, physical activity level.
* At baseline, 2 weeks after delivery.
† 1=Winter, 2=summer.
‡ At 4 months postpartum.
§ 0=No, 1=yes.
|| Travels to latitude 35°North or further during the last 6 months before baseline measurement.
¶ Between 4 and 12 months postpartum.
** Between baseline and 12 months postpartum.
†† 1=preference for staying in shade, or sun and shade, 2=preference for staying in the sun.
Results from the paired sample t test, unless otherwise stated in Table 4, showed that in women who had travelled to southern latitudes during the last 6 months before baseline the mean serum 25(OH)D concentration decreased significantly between baseline and 12 months postpartum (P=0·033). Moreover, in women using vitamin D supplements at baseline, mean serum concentrations of 25(OH)D decreased significantly between baseline and 12 months postpartum (P=0·011). Only 8 % of the women (n 6) were using vitamin D supplements throughout the whole study. No significant change in mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was found in these women during the 1st year postpartum. When women were grouped according to age, women ≥33 years of age had a significant decrease in mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations between baseline and 12 months postpartum (P=0·025). In contrast, in women using oestrogen contraceptives at 4 months postpartum, the mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was close to be significantly increased between 4 and 12 months postpartum (P=0·066).
Table 4 Differences in serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) at 2 weeks and 12 months postpartum (Numbers and percentages; mean values and standard deviations)Footnote †
*P<0·05, change in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D between 2 weeks and 12 months postpartum was significant.
† Statistical analyses performed by paired sample t test within each category of exposure variables.
‡ Wilcoxon’s ranked test was used to test differences between groups.
§ Travels to latitude 35°North or below during the last 6 months before baseline.
|| At baseline, 2 weeks postpartum.
¶ At 4 months postpartum.
†† Summer=May to October, Winter=November to April.
In women with serum 25(OH)D concentrations <50 nmol/l at baseline, the mean serum 25(OH)D concentration increased significantly between baseline and 12 months postpartum (P=0·004), whereas in women with serum 25(OH)D concentrations ≥50 nmol/l at baseline serum 25(OH)D concentrations decreased significantly during the same period of time (P=0·033). In women who had their baseline measurement during summer, a non-significant decrease in mean serum 25(OH)D concentration between baseline and 12 months postpartum was observed (P=0·061), whereas in women having their baseline measurement during winter a significant increase in serum 25(OH)D concentrations was observed between baseline and 12 months postpartum (P=0·048) (Fig. 2). A significant relationship between season at baseline and serum 25(OH)D concentration at baseline was observed (P=0·001).
Fig. 2 Change in serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D between baseline (2 weeks postpartum) and 12 months postpartum, according to month at baseline. Values are means and standard deviations.
In the multivariable regression analysis, including duration of total lactation and the significant determinants from the univariable regression model, use of oestrogen contraceptives, use of vitamin D supplements at baseline and season at baseline were significantly related to the changes in serum 25(OH)D concentrations between baseline and 12 months postpartum (Table 3). The model explained 37 % of the variation in the change in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D between baseline and 12 months postpartum. Interactions among the determinants season and travels to southern latitudes, season and use of vitamin D supplements, season and age and season and use of oestrogen contraceptives and their combined effects on changes in serum 25(OH)D concentrations were evaluated, but no significant interactions were observed.
Discussion
This is the first study to investigate changes in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D during the 1st year postpartum and the determinants of these changes in women in Sweden. The main finding was that mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations did not change between 2 weeks and 12 months postpartum, and no relationship was found between duration of lactation and changes in serum 25(OH)D concentrations during the 1st year postpartum. The major determinants for the variation in changes in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D postpartum were use of vitamin D supplements, use of oestrogen contraceptives and season.
Postpartum, it may be speculated that maternal vitamin D status decreases due to transfer of vitamin D from mother to child through breast milk( Reference Narchi, Kochiyil and Zayed 8 ). This theory is not supported by the findings of our study. Specker et al.( Reference Specker, Tsang and Ho 22 ) also did not find any relationship between the first 6 months of lactation and changes in serum 25(OH)D concentration or between lactation status and serum 25(OH)D concentration at 12 months postpartum. In addition, Møller et al.( Reference Møller, Streym and Heickendorff 21 ) observed no association between lactation at 2 weeks and 4 and 9 months postpartum and serum 25(OH)D concentrations. This suggests that serum 25(OH)D postpartum is not influenced by lactation to any major extent, at least not in women in Nordic countries or in North America. In contrast, Narchi et al.( Reference Narchi, Kochiyil and Zayed 8 ) observed a significant decrease in serum 25(OH)D concentrations during the first 6 months postpartum among lactating women in the United Arab Emirates, and their study population differed from ours – for example, the majority of women in their study had their head and arms covered and represented several different ethnic groups. This might, in part, explain the different findings( Reference Narchi, Kochiyil and Zayed 8 ). In addition, the women in the study by Narchi et al.( Reference Narchi, Kochiyil and Zayed 8 ) were exclusively breast-feeding for a longer period than the women in our study.
Women using vitamin D supplements at baseline had larger decreases in serum 25(OH)D concentrations during the 1st year postpartum than women not using vitamin D supplements. This could be explained by the higher mean 25(OH)D at baseline among supplement users than among non-users. In addition, fewer women were using vitamin D supplements at 12 months postpartum (18 %) compared with baseline (37 %). Vitamin D supplement intake has previously been shown to be one of the major determinants of serum 25(OH)D concentrations( Reference Burgaz, Akesson and Oster 13 , Reference Hedlund, Brembeck and Olausson 26 – Reference Cashman, Hill and Lucey 28 ). This study has shown that use of vitamin D supplements is also related to changes in serum 25(OH)D concentrations postpartum.
The observed positive relationship between use of oestrogen contraceptives and changes in serum 25(OH)D concentration during the 1st year postpartum needs to be handled with care, as only 5 % (four women) were using oestrogen contraceptives at 4 months postpartum. However, the observation supports previous findings from non-lactating women where use of oestrogen contraceptives was shown to be associated with higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations( Reference Møller, Streym and Heickendorff 21 , Reference Hedlund, Brembeck and Olausson 26 , Reference Harris and Dawson-Hughes 29 , Reference Sowers, Wallace and Hollis 30 ). In agreement with our results, where serum 25(OH)D tended to increase over 20 nmol/l in women who started to use oestrogen contraceptives, Harris et al.( Reference Harris and Dawson-Hughes 29 ) found a decrease in serum 25(OH)D concentration of over 20 nmol/l in women who discontinued oestrogen contraceptive use. During lactation, oestrogen levels are low and amenorrhoea may occur( Reference McNeilly, Tay and Glasier 31 , Reference Howie, McNeilly and Houston 32 ). The theory behind the observed relationship between 25(OH)D concentration and oestrogen is that oestrogen may increase the vitamin D-binding protein( Reference Harris and Dawson-Hughes 29 , Reference Sowers, Wallace and Hollis 30 , Reference Aarskog, Aksnes and Markestad 33 ). This increase would, in turn, decrease the free concentrations of all vitamin D metabolites and result in an overall increase in the circulating levels of 25(OH)D( Reference Sowers, Wallace and Hollis 30 ).
A significant decrease in serum 25(OH)D concentration postpartum was found in the univariable analyses in women who had travelled to southern latitudes before their baseline measurement, but not in those who had not been travelling. This might be explained by the higher baseline mean serum 25(OH)D in women who had travelled before baseline compared with women who had not recently travelled. During the 1st year postpartum, only two women who travelled before their baseline measurement travelled again. This might explain the decrease in serum 25(OH)D concentration. Previous studies have shown that travel to southern latitudes is a determinant of serum 25(OH)D concentration during pregnancy( Reference Brembeck, Winkvist and Olausson 23 , Reference Vandevijvere, Amsalkhir and Van Oyen 34 ) as well as in non-pregnant and non-lactating women( Reference Burgaz, Akesson and Oster 13 , Reference Hedlund, Brembeck and Olausson 26 ), but, until now, not in lactating women. Other variables of sun exposure have been reported to be major determinants of serum 25(OH)D concentration( Reference Dawodu, Davidson and Woo 19 , Reference Andersen, Brot and Jakobsen 27 , Reference Burgaz, Akesson and Michaelsson 35 ). Overall, exposure to sunlight is the primary source for vitamin D( 1 , Reference De-Regil, Palacios and Ansary 36 ), but in Gothenburg on 57°North cutaneous production of vitamin D is only possible between April and September( Reference Tsiaras and Weinstock 11 ). This is probably why travel to southern latitudes, where cutaneous vitamin D production is possible all year round, is related to a higher vitamin D status.
The significant increase in serum 25(OH)D concentrations during the 1st year postpartum in women with serum 25(OH)D <50 nmol/l at baseline, but not in women with serum 25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/l at baseline, may be explained by the regression to the mean phenomena. Whether this discrepancy between the subgroups is explained by other factors, such as a change in sun exposure, can only be speculated. Both these possible explanations may also account for the relationship found between changes in serum 25(OH)D concentration postpartum and season at baseline. Women giving birth during winter had a significant increase in serum 25(OH)D concentrations during the 1st year postpartum, whereas no such relationship was found in women giving birth during summer.
Serum 25(OH)D concentration is known to be lower in obese individuals than in normal-weight individuals( Reference Holick 2 , Reference Thuesen, Husemoen and Fenger 14 ). In this study, 22·1 % of the women were overweight, but only 2·6 % were obese at 12 months postpartum. However, no relationships were found between changes in serum 25(OH)D concentration and BMI or body weight during the 1st year postpartum. The mean BMI at 12 months postpartum was 23·1 kg/m2 and is lower than the corresponding value in the general population (25·1 kg/m2)( 37 ). Mean age at baseline was 32·9 years, which is slightly higher than the comparable national data for pregnant women of 30·8 years( 38 ). In total, 80 % of the women had ≥3 years of education at university level, compared with 37 % in the general Swedish population of women in the same age group( 39 ). In total, 88 % of the women were lactating to some extent at 4 months postpartum, compared with only 75 % of the women in the whole country( 7 ). Earlier studies have found that women with higher education breast-feed for a longer period( Reference Flacking, Nyqvist and Ewald 40 ). As the women in this study weighed less, had higher education, lactated to a greater extent and actively chose to participate in the study, they may be more health conscious than the general population.
Limitations of the present study include the small sample size and the homogeneous study population, which make it difficult to generalise the results. Furthermore, the small number of women using oestrogen contraceptives means that these results need to be carefully interpreted. The strengths of the study are that it is one of very few studies examining changes in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D postpartum overall. This is the first study examining lactation as well as other determinants of serum 25(OH)D concentration at northern latitudes, where cutaneous production is not possible all year round. In addition, we examined a broad spectrum of possible determinants and had a long-term follow-up throughout a whole year, covering all seasons.
In conclusion, in this population of Swedish women, mean serum concentration of 25(OH)D did not change between 2 weeks and 12 months postpartum, and no relationship was found between duration of lactation and changes in serum 25(OH)D concentration during the 1st year postpartum. Instead, the main determinants of the variation in changes in serum 25(OH)D during the 1st year postpartum were use of vitamin D supplements, use of oestrogen contraceptives and season.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank all the participants and their families. The authors also thank technical assistants Elisabeth Gramatkovski and Birgitta Arvidsson and research nurse Anna Folino for their help with data collection and handling and Ann Laskey for valuable comments.
This study was supported by The Swedish Research Council Formas (No. 2007-398 and 2009-1504) (H. A.); The Graduate School Environment and Health (H. A.); The Swedish Nutrition Foundation (P. B.); Wilhelm & Martina Lundgrens Vetenskapsfond (P. B.); Magnus Bergvall Foundation (H. A.); Fredrik and Ingrid Thuring Foundation (H. A.); Olof Johannisson Foundation (H. A.); The Swedish Society of Medicine (H. A.); Swedish Society for Medical Research (H. A.); Sahlgrenska University Hospital Foundation (H. A.); Gustaf V and Queen Victoria’s Freemason Foundation (H. A.); and Kvinnor & Hälsa Foundation (H. A.). No funders had any role in the design, analysis or writing of this article.
P. B. is the main author, but all authors contributed to the text. P. B. and H. A. made substantial contributions to data collection and laboratory work and L. B. and M. B. to the data handling. H. A. designed the study and P. B., A. W. and H. A. made substantial contribution to the statistical analyses.
None of the authors has any conflicts of interest to declare.
