INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnancy, especially in obese women. Lifestyle intervention could potentially result in higher levels of vitamin D. We therefore aimed to study the effect of lifestyle intervention during pregnancy on serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 360 obese women were randomized before gestational age 14 weeks to lifestyle intervention (diet and exercise) or routine clinical follow up (controls). Clinical outcomes and levels of 25-OH-D were determined three times: At gestational age 12 to 15 weeks (baseline), gestational age 28 to 30 weeks and 6 months postpartum. RESULTS: A total of 304 (84%) women completed the intervention study and 238 (66%) attended postpartum follow up. Vitamin D levels were similar in the two groups at baseline. At gestational age 28 to 30 weeks and 6 months postpartum, 25-OH-D levels were significantly higher in the intervention group than in controls (75.6 versus 66.8 nmol/L, p = 0.009) and (54.8 versus 43.1 nmol/L, p = 0.013), respectively. Concurrently, vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D < 50 nmol/L) was less frequent in the intervention group than in controls: 15 versus 25% (p = 0.038) at gestational age 28 to 30 and 45 versus 63% (p = 0.011) 6 months postpartum, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle intervention during pregnancy was associated with significantly increased vitamin D levels in late pregnancy and postpartum compared with controls.

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