Determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in healthy young adults living in the Western Cape, South Africa

Autor: J. Visser, K. Knight, L. Philips, W. Visser, M. Wallace, D. G. Nel, R. Blaauw
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: South African Family Practice, Vol 61, Iss 4 (2019)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2078-6190
2078-6204
DOI: 10.4102/safp.v61i4.4951
Popis: Background: Vitamin D deficiency is fast emerging as a global pandemic. In South Africa few studies have been conducted to determine the vitamin D status of the healthy population. Methods: This prospective study with an analytical component investigated vitamin D status of healthy undergraduate students at two time points (winter and summer) at Stellenbosch University. Serum 25(OH)D was determined, anthropometric measurements taken and dietary vitamin D intake estimated (food-frequency questionnaire). Skin tone was determined (Fitzpatrick skin type classification), and a skin reflectometry device used to measure dermal melanin content. Results: Results of 242 students indicated a mean serum 25(OH)D of 63.80 ± 41.35 ng/ml and a high prevalence of vitamin D sufficiency (88%). Significantly more females experienced suboptimal vitamin D levels than males (18 vs. 5%; p 0.01). Participants with lighter skin tones had higher levels of 25(OH)D than those with darker skin tones (chi-square = 24.02; p = 0.02). The majority (60.74%) had a normal BMI, although there was no significant relationship between BMI and serum 25 (OH)D (Spearman’s r=–0.11; p = 0.09). Total mean dietary vitamin D intake was 7.99 ± 13.81 mcg, with 87.2% having inadequate intake ( 15 mcg). The relationship between total vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D was found to be significant in winter (p 0.001) and summer (p = 0.01). Serum vitamin D levels were significantly higher in the winter phase (p 0.001). Conclusions: A low prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found amongst healthy young adults, despite low dietary vitamin D intakes. Significant relationships were found between serum 25(OH)D and gender, skin tone and vitamin D intake. Further studies need to be conducted, especially in high-risk groups, before results are applied to the greater South African public.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
Externí odkaz:
Nepřihlášeným uživatelům se plný text nezobrazuje