Determinants of vitamin D status in a general population of Danish adults

TY - JOUR

T1 - Determinants of vitamin D status in a general population of Danish adults

AU - Thuesen, B

AU - Husemoen, L

AU - Fenger, M

AU - Jakobsen, J

AU - Schwarz, P

AU - Toft, U

AU - Ovesen, Liselotte

AU - Jørgensen, T

AU - Linneberg, A

N1 - Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2012/3

Y1 - 2012/3

N2 - Background and aims: Danish legislation regarding food fortification has been very restrictive and vitamin D deficiency is thought to be common in Denmark due to inadequate dietary intakes and the fact that in Denmark (latitude 56°N) vitamin D is only synthesized in the skin after exposure to solar radiation during summertime (April-September). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D status of a general adult population in Denmark and, in addition, associations between vitamin D status and distinct lifestyle factors were studied. Methods: A random sample of 6784 persons from a general population aged 30-60 years participated in a health examination in 1999-2001. Serum samples from all participants were stored and levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were measured by HPLC in 2009. The method was compared to another HPLC method. Information on dietary intake of vitamin D and other lifestyle factors were obtained by questionnaires. A total of 6146 persons defined as ethnic Danes and with successful measurements of 25(OH)D were included in the analyses. Results: The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 25nmol/l) and insufficiency (25(OH)D < 50nmol/l) were 13.8% and 52.2%, respectively. A marked seasonal fluctuation was seen in serum levels of 25(OH)D - median values of 25(OH)D were lowest in February and highest in August. In multiple logistic regression models (n=5506), low vitamin D status was significantly associated with obesity (BMI ≥ 30), daily smoking and a sedentary lifestyle. However, measurements of 25(OH)D were not associated with the estimated dietary intake of vitamin D. Comparison of two HPLC methods demonstrated considerable differences in accuracy. Discussion and conclusions: Our results suggest that poor vitamin D status is common among adults in a Northern European country without food fortification with vitamin D. Methodological issues are, however, of great importance when using cut-off values to define poor vitamin D status. In addition, we demonstrated that low serum levels of 25(OH)D were associated with several lifestyle factors.

AB - Background and aims: Danish legislation regarding food fortification has been very restrictive and vitamin D deficiency is thought to be common in Denmark due to inadequate dietary intakes and the fact that in Denmark (latitude 56°N) vitamin D is only synthesized in the skin after exposure to solar radiation during summertime (April-September). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D status of a general adult population in Denmark and, in addition, associations between vitamin D status and distinct lifestyle factors were studied. Methods: A random sample of 6784 persons from a general population aged 30-60 years participated in a health examination in 1999-2001. Serum samples from all participants were stored and levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were measured by HPLC in 2009. The method was compared to another HPLC method. Information on dietary intake of vitamin D and other lifestyle factors were obtained by questionnaires. A total of 6146 persons defined as ethnic Danes and with successful measurements of 25(OH)D were included in the analyses. Results: The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 25nmol/l) and insufficiency (25(OH)D < 50nmol/l) were 13.8% and 52.2%, respectively. A marked seasonal fluctuation was seen in serum levels of 25(OH)D - median values of 25(OH)D were lowest in February and highest in August. In multiple logistic regression models (n=5506), low vitamin D status was significantly associated with obesity (BMI ≥ 30), daily smoking and a sedentary lifestyle. However, measurements of 25(OH)D were not associated with the estimated dietary intake of vitamin D. Comparison of two HPLC methods demonstrated considerable differences in accuracy. Discussion and conclusions: Our results suggest that poor vitamin D status is common among adults in a Northern European country without food fortification with vitamin D. Methodological issues are, however, of great importance when using cut-off values to define poor vitamin D status. In addition, we demonstrated that low serum levels of 25(OH)D were associated with several lifestyle factors.

U2 - 10.1016/j.bone.2011.12.016

DO - 10.1016/j.bone.2011.12.016

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22227435

SN - 8756-3282

VL - 50

SP - 605

EP - 610

JO - Bone

JF - Bone

IS - 3

ER -