scholarly journals Is There Pandemic Vitamin D Deficiency in the Black Population? A Review of Evidence

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ria S. Roberts ◽  
Fafa Huberta Koudoro ◽  
Mark S. Elliott ◽  
Zhiyong Han

Although 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] is the biologically active form of vitamin D, measurement of the total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level is the gold standard used to define vitamin D status. Currently, it is widely accepted that serum 25 (OH) D levels below 20 ng/ml defines vitamin D deficiency. According to this definition, there appears to be pandemic vitamin D deficiency in the Black population. However, there is no evidence of higher-than-normal rates of common complications and symptomology of true vitamin D deficiency in the Black population. What is going on? We researched the MEDLINE databases to find studies, from 1967 to present, that directly compare between Blacks and Caucasians the following: serum vitamin D level, serum calcium level, serum parathyroid hormone level, bone mineral density and health, and non-skeletal risks associated with vitamin D deficiency. The available studies consistently show that Blacks tend to have serum 25(OH)D levels in the deficient range while their serum 1,25(OH)D level is similar to, if not even slightly higher than that of Caucasians, and that the serum Ca2+ level in Blacks is virtually identical to that in Caucasians. Therefore, it appears that the serum 25(OH)D level is not the best marker of vitamin D sufficiency or deficiency in Blacks. In the future, clinical evaluation of the vitamin D status in the Black population needs to consider other serum biomarkers such as 1,25(OH)2D and/or bioavailable 25(OH)D.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254488
Author(s):  
Vicka Oktaria ◽  
Rina Triasih ◽  
Stephen M. Graham ◽  
Julie E. Bines ◽  
Yati Soenarto ◽  
...  

Objective To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Indonesian children hospitalized with pneumonia and evaluate the association between vitamin D status and severity of pneumonia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2016 to July 2017 in two district hospitals in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. Infants and young children aged 2–59 months hospitalized with pneumonia were recruited. Serum blood samples were collected on admission and analyzed for total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 concentrations using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a level of serum vitamin D <50 nmol/L. The association between vitamin D deficiency and severity of hospitalized pneumonia according to WHO criteria, including the presence of danger signs, hypoxemia (SpO2 in air below 90%), duration of hospitalization, and admission to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), was analyzed using logistic regression. Results 133 children with WHO-defined pneumonia were enrolled in the study and 127 (96%) had their vitamin D status determined. The mean vitamin D concentration was 67 (± 24 SD) nmol/L and 19% of participants were vitamin D deficient. Age younger than 6 months was associated with prolonged hospitalization (> 5 days) and low birth weight and poor nutritional status on admission were risk factors for hypoxemia. However, vitamin D status was not associated with the presence of danger signs, duration of hospitalization, or hypoxemia. Conclusions One in every five children hospitalized with pneumonia was vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D status was not associated with the severity of pneumonia.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 397-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurel M. Wentz ◽  
Pei-Yang Liu ◽  
Jasminka Z. Ilich ◽  
Emily M. Haymes

Background:High rates of vitamin D deficiency have been reported in athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between vitamin D with bone health and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations in female runners who trained at 30.4° degrees north.Methods:Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D), PTH, body composition, and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured in 59 female runners, aged 18–40 years. Stress fracture history, training duration and frequency were evaluated by questionnaire. As per National Endocrine Society cut-offs, serum vitamin D ranges were: 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L for deficient; 50–75 nmol/L for insufficient; and ≥ 75 nmol/L for sufficient status.Results:Mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations were 122.6 ± 63.9 nmol/L, with 18.6% of subjects in the deficient (5.1%) or insufficient (13.5%) range. No significant differences were observed between sufficient and deficient/insufficient subjects for BMD, PTH, history of stress fractures, or demographic data.Conclusions:The majority of distance runners maintained sufficient vitamin D status, suggesting that training outdoors in latitude where vitamin D synthesis occurs year-round reduces the risk for vitamin D deficiency. Data do not support the indiscriminate supplementation of outdoor athletes in southern latitudes without prior screening.


2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 394 ◽  
Author(s):  
ErhanArif Ozturk ◽  
Ibrahim Gundogdu ◽  
Burak Tonuk ◽  
Ebru Umay ◽  
BilgeGonenli Kocer ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ourania Kolokotroni ◽  
Anna Papadopoulou ◽  
Panayiotis K Yiallouros ◽  
Vasilios Raftopoulos ◽  
Christiana Kouta ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo assess vitamin D status among Cypriot adolescents and investigate potential determinants including BMI and body fat percentage (BF%).DesignParticipants had cross-sectional assessments of serum vitamin D, physical activity, dietary vitamin D intake and sun exposure. Linear and logistic regression models were used to explore the associations of vitamin D with potential predictors.SettingHospitals, Cyprus, November 2007–May 2008.SubjectsAdolescents (n 671) aged 16–18 years.ResultsMean serum vitamin D was 22·90 (sd 6·41) ng/ml. Only one in ten children had sufficient levels of vitamin D (≥30 ng/ml), while the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (12–20 ng/ml) and severe deficiency (<12 ng/ml) was 31·7 % and 4·0 %, respectively. Lower vitamin D was associated with winter and spring season, female gender, reduced sun exposure in winter and darker skin. Participants with highest BMI and BF% when compared with a middle reference group had increased adjusted odds of vitamin D insufficiency (OR = 3·00; 95 % CI 1·21, 7·45 and OR = 5·02; 95 % CI 1·80, 13·97, respectively). A similar pattern, although not as strong, was shown for vitamin D deficiency with BF% (OR = 1·81; 95 % CI 1·04, 3·16) and BMI (OR = 1·51; 95 % CI 0·85, 2·67). Participants in the lowest BMI and BF% groups also displayed compromised vitamin D status, suggesting a U-shaped association.ConclusionsVitamin D deficiency in adolescence is very prevalent in sunny Cyprus, particularly among females, those with darker skin and those with reduced sun exposure in winter. Furthermore, vitamin D status appears to have a U-shaped association with adiposity measures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 1309-1318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Fraissler ◽  
Sebastian Philipp Boelch ◽  
Thomas Schäfer ◽  
Matthias Walcher ◽  
Jörg Arnholdt ◽  
...  

Background: Low vitamin D levels are common in patients with foot and ankle disorders. We have previously demonstrated that juveniles diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Moreover, there is evidence that OCD might be related to vitamin D deficiency in general. However, whether or not hypovitaminosis D is associated with OCD of the talus has yet to be elucidated. Methods: The aim of this study was to determine serum vitamin D levels [25(OH)D] of patients diagnosed with traumatic and idiopathic OCD of the talus. The vitamin D status of patients was measured and correlated to age, sex, season, etiology, laterality, degree of disease, and nicotine abuse. Moreover, parathyroid hormone and serum calcium levels of patients were obtained to assess for severe vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Between January 2015 and December 2017, 65 patients with a mean age of 38.9 years and a total of 68 lesions were identified. Results: In total, 75.4% of patients had low vitamin D levels with a mean overall 25(OH)D level of 24.2 ng/mL. Specifically, 35.4% of patients were vitamin D deficient; another 40% were vitamin D insufficient, and only 24.6% of patients presented with sufficient vitamin D levels. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference comparing vitamin D levels of patients with idiopathic OCD to patients with traumatic OCD. Conclusion: We could not find any significant differences in the vitamin D status of patients with OCD of the talus compared with patients with foot and ankle disorders in general. However, we found that vitamin D deficiency was frequent in patients presenting with traumatic and idiopathic OCD of the talus. We believe it might be beneficial to routinely assess and treat the vitamin D status of patients. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Homayra Tahseen Hossain ◽  
Quazi Tarikul Islam ◽  
Md Abul Kashem Khandaker ◽  
HAM Nazmul Ahasan

Background: Recently, we see in our clinical practice that many patients who are coming with generalized body aches and pains and diagnosed as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue, not adequately responding to treatment. When their vitamin D level was done, it was found to be low and correction of their low vitamin D level improved their symptoms dramatically. Despite abundant sunshine in Bangladesh, allowing vitamin D synthesis all the year round, why our people are developing hypovitaminosis D inspired us to do this current study. Our present study is designed to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adult patients presented with aches & pains as well as to study the association of low vitamin D levels with different socio-demographic parameters.Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted among 212 adult patients aged 18 years and above presented with generalized body aches and pains, attended both outpatient and inpatient departments of Popular Medical College Hospital during the period of March’16- August’16 ( 6 months). Association between vitamin D status & the individual specific variables was statistically analyzed.Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the study population was found to be100% in all age groups. Among 212 study population, 73.6% were female (n=156) & 26.4% were male (n=56). Mean Vitamin D level among male was 14.29 (SD 4.68) & among female was 12.64 (SD 4.74). The factors associated with severely deficient Vitamin D level were female sex, urban population, &obesity. It is alarming that 64.2% of our study population were totally unaware about the importance of sun exposure.Conclusions: Vitamin D status was associated with a number of socio-demographic variables. Knowledge of these variables may improve targeted education and public health initiatives.J MEDICINE Jan 2018; 19 (1) : 22-29


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 205-209
Author(s):  
Pierre Jésus ◽  
Bertrand Godet ◽  
Lucile Darthou-Pouchard ◽  
Philippe Fayemendy ◽  
Françoise Abdallah-Lebeau ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background & Aims: Epilepsy affects nearly 70 million people worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency may influence the balance of certain epilepsies. The purpose of this study was to determine the vitamin D status and anthropometric measurements of people with epilepsy (PWE), according to their pharmacosensitivity. Methods: Forty-six PWE, with or without drug resistance, underwent nutritional assessment after giving consent. Weight, body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), fat mass (FM) and free fat mass (FFM) by bioelectrical impedance analysis were measured. Serum vitamin D was determined without supplementation. Deficiency was defined as a level < 30 ng/mL. Statistical analysis involved Student t test, ANOVA and Chi2. Results: Patients were aged 44.5 ± 14.3 years, with 60.9% of drug-resistance. BMI was 28.7 ± 7.0, 2.2% were malnourished and 30.4% obese according to the BMI. The average vitamin D level was 15.3 ± 9.9 ng/mL, with 87.0% of deficiency, and 40.0% of severe deficiency (<10 ng/mL). The TSF was higher in drug-resistant cases (p = 0.03). There was no link between drug resistance and anthropometric measurements, FM, FFM or vitamin D concentration. Conclusions: Although limited in size, this study showed that PWE are more often obese. Vitamin D deficiency is more common than in the general population, with a much higher prevalence of severe deficiency.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingyi Luo ◽  
Chunbo Qu ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Jingyi Zhang ◽  
Dan Han ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a major public health problem in China while there are seldom reports about vitamin D nutrition status in Chinese college students. The purpose of this study is to explore the vitamin D status of the college freshmen who came from different provinces of China and to comprehensive analyze the effects of diet, physical activity, and UV protection on serum vitamin D levels. Methods: Totally 1,667 freshmen who came from 26 provinces, autonomous districts or municipalities, were recruited into this study. An online questionnaire was used to collect the information including demographic status, diet habit, physical activity, and UV protection of the participants. Serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations were measured using a liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to explore the comprehensive influence of diet, physical activity, and UV protection on serum 25(OH)D3 levels. Results: The average age of the subjects was18.55±0.90 years, with 23.0% male and 77.0% female. The mean serum 25(OH)D3 was 18.06±6.34ng/mL and the proportion of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was 67.5% and 27.8%, respectively. Multivariate linear regression indicated that milk and yogurt intake≥200mL/d, calcium or vitamin D supplements and average time of outdoor activity ≥60 min/day were positively linked to higher serum vitamin D while sweets intake ≥10g/d and higher UV protection index were negatively influenced serum vitamin D after adjusted for age, gender, students’ original residence, latitudes and longitude. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is an important health problem in Chinese college students. Milk and yogurt intake and outdoor activity should be encouraged while sweets intake should be limited for preventing vitamin D deficiency. Public health policies should consider well-balanced guidelines on UV protection and vitamin D food fortification or supplementation.


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