Journal
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
Volume 141, Issue 8, Pages 1535-1542Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.3945/jn.111.140012
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Funding
- Cancer Research UK [C348/A3758, C348/A8896, C31250/A10107]
- Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office [K/OPR/2/2/D333, CZB/4/94]
- Medical Research Council [G0000657-53203]
- CORE
- MRC [MC_PC_U127527198, MC_U127527198, G0800604] Funding Source: UKRI
- Cancer Research UK [12076] Funding Source: researchfish
- Chief Scientist Office [CZH/4/529, CZB/4/449] Funding Source: researchfish
- Medical Research Council [MC_U127527198, G0800604, MC_PC_U127527198] Funding Source: researchfish
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Vitamin D deficiency has recently been implicated as a possible risk factor in the etiology of numerous diseases, including nonskeletal conditions. In humans, skin synthesis following exposure to UVB is a potent source of vitamin D, but in regions with low UVB, individuals are at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Our objectives were to describe the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and to investigate determinants of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations in a high northern latitude country. Detailed dietary, lifestyle, and demographic data were collected for 2235 healthy adults (21-82 y) from Scotland. Plasma 25-OHD was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem MS. Among study participants, 34.5% were severely deficient (25-OHD <25 nmol/L) and 28.9% were at high risk of deficiency (25-40 nmol/L). Only 36.6% of participants were at low risk of vitamin D deficiency or had adequate levels (>40 nmol/L). Among participants who were taking supplements, 21.3% had a May-standardized 25-OHD concentration >50 nmol/L, 54.2% had 25-50 nmol/L, and 24.5% had <25 nmol/L, whereas this was 15.6, 43.3, and 41%, respectively, among those who did not take supplements (P < 0.0001). The most important sources of vitamin D were supplements and fish consumption. Vitamin D deficiency in Scotland is highly prevalent due to a combination of insufficient exposure to UVB and insufficient dietary intake. Higher dietary vitamin D intake modestly improved the plasma 25-OHD concentration (P = 0.02) and reduced the proportion of severely deficient individuals (P < 0.0001). In regions with low UVB exposure, dietary and supplement intake may be much more important than previously thought and consideration should be given to increasing the current recommended dietary allowance of 0-10 mu g/d for adults in Scotland. J. Nutr. 141: 1535-1542, 2011.
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