scholarly journals Vitamin D status in the tropics: Is sunlight exposure the main determinant?

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Mendes ◽  
K. H. Hart ◽  
P. B. Botelho ◽  
S. A. Lanham-New
2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adda Bjarnadottir ◽  
Asa Gudrun Kristjansdottir ◽  
Hannes Hrafnkelsson ◽  
Erlingur Johannsson ◽  
Kristjan Thor Magnusson ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveThe aim was to investigate autumn vitamin D intake and status in 7-year-old Icelanders, fitting BMI and cardiorespiratory fitness as predictors.DesignThree-day food records and fasting blood samples were collected evenly from September to November, and cardiorespiratory fitness was measured with an ergometer bike. Food and nutrient intakes were calculated, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) and serum parathyroid hormone were analysed. Suboptimal vitamin D status was defined s-25(OH)D <50 nmol/l, and deficient status as s-25(OH)D <25 nmol/l.SettingSchool-based study in Reykjavik, Iceland in 2006.SubjectsOf the 7-year-olds studied (n 265), 165 returned valid intake information (62 %), 158 gave blood samples (60 %) and 120 gave both (45 %).ResultsRecommended vitamin D intake (10 μg/d) was reached by 22·4 % of the children and 65·2 % had s-25(OH)D <50 nmol/l. Median s-25(OH)D was higher for children taking vitamin D supplements (49·2 nmol/l v. 43·2 nmol/l, respectively; P < 0·0 0 1). Median s-25(OH)D was lower in November (36·7 nmol/l) than in September (59·9 nmol/l; P < 0·001). The regression model showed that week of autumn accounted for 18·9 % of the variance in s-25(OH)D (P < 0·001), vitamin D intake 5·2 % (P < 0·004) and cardiorespiratory fitness 4·6 % (P < 0·005).ConclusionsA minority of children followed the vitamin D recommendations and 65 % had suboptimal vitamin D status during the autumn. Week of autumn was more strongly associated with vitamin D status than diet or cardiorespiratory fitness, which associated with vitamin D status to a similar extent. These results demonstrate the importance of sunlight exposure during summer to prevent suboptimal vitamin D status in young schoolchildren during autumn in northern countries. An increased effort is needed for enabling adherence to the vitamin D recommendations and increasing outdoor activities for sunlight exposure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Quazi Tarikul Islam ◽  
Md Alimur Reza ◽  
Md Khalilur Rahman ◽  
AFM Nazmul Islam ◽  
Saiyeedur Rahman ◽  
...  

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a whole spectrum of diseases including osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular and immune disorders. Though Bangladesh is low latitude country, vitamin D Deficiency is serious and wide spread problem in Bangladesh. Physicians of Bangladesh are more vulnerable to low vitamin D status due to long indoor work hours and lack of sunlight exposure in both government & private institute. So, the aim of this study to evaluate vitamin D status among the physicians working around the Bangladesh. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study where we enrolled 1112 doctors from 9 different areas of Bangladesh from May 2018 to June 2019. A Blood sample was collected from all participants to measure Serum 25(OH)D and various patient data such as age, gender, BMI, physical activity level during leisure time, use of vitamins and medications, sunlight exposure time, tea/coffee drinking, smoking, H/O comorbidities etc. was collected. Results: Of the 1112 doctors assessed in the study,794 (71.4%) was male and 318 (28.6%) was female. Mean age of the participants was 45.5±11.1 Years. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was found in 734 (65.8%) and 105 (9.4%) participants respectively. Mean vitamin D level was 18.9 ng/ml (±8.6 ng/ml). Less than 5% of participants of Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Bogura and Sylhet had sufficient vitamin D level. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with age, obesity, sunlight exposure, physical inactivity, hypertension and vitamin D supplementation. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is very common among physicians of all over Bangladesh. The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the present study points towards urgent need of an integrated approach to detect vitamin D deficiency among health care professionals and treat appropriately. Bangladesh J Medicine January 2021; 32(1) : 31-38


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 249 ◽  
Author(s):  
AnuradhaV Khadilkar ◽  
VivekG Patwardhan ◽  
ZulfM Mughal ◽  
ShashiA Chiplonkar ◽  
AnnR Webb ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahani A. Zareef ◽  
Robert T. Jackson

Abstract Background Saudi women are at risk of vitamin D deficiency because they are fully covered by traditional clothing and because of their indoor lifestyle. The latest national study reported that vitamin D deficiency (serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) affects 72% of young Saudi women. Because little information is available regarding knowledge on vitamin D, attitudes toward sun exposure, and the vitamin D status of premenopausal women in Jeddah, more research is necessary in order to develop effective intervention programs. The purpose of this study is to explore how the relationship between knowledge of vitamin D and attitudes about sun exposure affect the serum 25(OH)D levels in premenopausal Saudi women. Methods This cross-sectional study included 257 women aged 20–50 years attending the primary care clinic in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants completed questionnaires about socio-demographics, dietary vitamin D intake, attitudes toward sun exposure, and were tested on their knowledge of vitamin D. Serum 25(OH)D was evaluated using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Results Although 99% of participants had heard of vitamin D and 91% knew that sunlight exposure is a primary source of vitamin D, they also expressed the feeling of having insufficient knowledge regarding vitamin D sources. Furthermore, the majority of participants had negative attitudes toward sun exposure. High fish consumption was associated with a higher level of knowledge regarding vitamin D. The binary logistic regression indicated that low levels of knowledge about vitamin D were associated with low education levels (odds ratio = 0.397, 95% CI = [0.206, 0.765], p = 0.019) and with being married (odds ratio = 0.522, 95% CI = [0.281, 0.971], p = 0.04). In addition, spending time outside in the sun was significantly associated with increased serum 25(OH)D levels (p = 0.006), and the wearing of colored abaya was significantly associated with increased serum 25(OH)D levels (p = 0.008). Conclusion Suboptimal vitamin D status and insufficient knowledge of vitamin D intake sources are common in premenopausal women in Jeddah. Based on this data, health professionals could provide medical intervention to the most vulnerable female patients, as well as offer clear guidelines and information to the general public.


2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pinky Meena ◽  
Aashima Dabas ◽  
Dheeraj Shah ◽  
Rajeev Kumar Malhotra ◽  
S. V. Madhu ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Abboud ◽  
M. S. Rybchyn ◽  
R. Rizk ◽  
D. R. Fraser ◽  
R. S. Mason

Studies on the determinants of vitamin D status have tended to concentrate on input – exposure to ultraviolet B radiation and the limited sources in food.


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