scholarly journals A Narrative Review of The Role of Foods as Dietary Sources of Vitamin D of Ethnic Minority Populations with Darker Skin: The Underestimated Challenge

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Guo ◽  
Julie A. Lovegrove ◽  
David I. Givens

In recent years, vitamin D deficiency has attracted attention worldwide. Especially many ethnic minority populations are considered at high-risk of vitamin D deficiency, owing to a lesser ability to synthesis vitamin D from sunlight (ultraviolet B), due to the skin pigment melanin and/or reduced skin exposure due to coverage required by religious and cultural restrictions. Therefore, vitamin D intake from dietary sources has become increasingly important for many ethnic minority populations to achieve adequate vitamin D status compared with the majority of the population. The aim of the study was critically evaluate the vitamin D intake and vitamin D status of the ethnic minority populations with darker skin, and also vitamin D absorption from supplements and ultraviolet B. Pubmed, Embaase and Scopus were searched for articles published up to October 2018. The available evidence showed ethnic minority populations generally have a lower vitamin D status than the majority populations. The main contributory food sources for dietary vitamin D intake were different for ethnic minority populations and majority populations, due to vary dietary patterns. Future strategies to increase dietary vitamin D intake by food fortification or biofortification needs to be explored, not only for the majority population but more specifically for ethnic minority populations who are generally of lower vitamin D status.

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Straube ◽  
R. Andrew Moore ◽  
Sheena Derry ◽  
Ernst Hallier ◽  
Henry J. McQuay

Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in chronic pain. Immigrant and ethnic minority populations have been shown to have lower vitamin D levels than native Western populations and often to be vitamin D deficient. This systematic review investigates the relationship between vitamin D and chronic pain in immigrant and ethnic minority populations. Included were studies reporting on 25-OH vitamin D levels in immigrant/ethnic minority populations affected by chronic pain, and/or reporting on the treatment of chronic pain with vitamin D preparations in such populations. We found that 25-OH vitamin D levels were low and often deficient in immigrant/ethnic minority populations. Vitamin D levels depended on the latitude of the study location and hence sunlight exposure. There was insufficient evidence to reach a verdict on the value of treating chronic pain in immigrant/ethnic minority patients with vitamin D preparations because the studies were few, small, and of low quality.


Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Vearing ◽  
Kathryn H. Hart ◽  
Andrea L. Darling ◽  
Yasmine Probst ◽  
Aminat S. Olayinka ◽  
...  

Abstract Background/Objectives Vitamin D deficiency remains a global public health issue, particularly in minority ethnic groups. This review investigates the vitamin D status (as measured by 25(OH)D and dietary intake) of the African-Caribbean population globally. Subjects/Methods A systematic review was conducted by searching key databases (PUBMED, Web of Science, Scopus) from inception until October 2019. Search terms included ‘Vitamin D status’ and ‘African-Caribbean’. A random effects and fixed effects meta-analysis was performed by combining means and standard error of the mean. Result The search yielded 19 papers that included n = 5670 African-Caribbean participants from six countries. A meta-analysis found this population to have sufficient (>50 nmol/L) 25(OH)D levels at 67.8 nmol/L, 95% CI (57.9, 7.6) but poor dietary intake of vitamin D at only 3.0 µg/day, 95% CI (1.67,4.31). For those living at low latitudes ‘insufficient’ (as defined by study authors) 25(OH)D levels were found only in participants with type 2 diabetes and in those undergoing haemodialysis. Suboptimal dietary vitamin D intake (according to the UK recommended nutrient intake of 10 µg/day) was reported in all studies at high latitudes. Studies at lower latitudes, with lower recommended dietary intakes (Caribbean recommended dietary intake: 2.5 µg/day) found ‘sufficient’ intake in two out of three studies. Conclusions 25(OH)D sufficiency was found in African-Caribbean populations at lower latitudes. However, at higher latitudes, 25(OH)D deficiency and low dietary vitamin D intake was prevalent.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Honglin Dong ◽  
Viktorija Asmolovaite ◽  
Nareen Marseal ◽  
Maryam Mearbon

Purpose Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide. This paper aims to investigate the vitamin D status and dietary intake in young university students. Design/methodology/approach Forty-one healthy students aged 18–29 years from Coventry University UK were recruited during January-February 2019, including white Caucasians (n = 18), African-Caribbeans (n = 14) and Asians (n = 9). Plasma 25(OH)D concentrations were measured and dietary vitamin D intake was determined. Chi-square and simple linear regression were used to analyse the data. Findings The plasma 25(OH)D concentrations were (36.0 ± 22.2) nmol/L in all subjects, (46.5 ± 25.3) nmol/L in white Caucasians, (22.6 ± 7.4) nmol/L in African-Caribbeans and (37.4 ± 21.7 nmol/L) in Asians. The majority (85.7%) of African-Caribbeans were vitamin D deficient compared with 22.2% of white Caucasians and 33.3% of Asians (p = 0.001). Overweight/obese subjects showed a significant higher proportion of vitamin D deficiency (65%) than normal weight subjects (28.6%) (p = 0.04). The average dietary vitamin D intake in all subjects was (4.6 ± 3.9) µg/day. Only 12.1% of the subjects met the recommended dietary vitamin D intake of 10 µg/day. Dietary vitamin D intake (p = 0.04) and ethnicity (p = 0.01) were significant predictors of 25(OH)D levels and accounted for 13% and 18.5% of 25(OH)D variance, respectively. Research limitations/implications This small-scale study showed an alarmingly high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among subjects from African-Caribbean origin during wintertime. Education programs and campaigns are urgently needed to fight the vitamin D deficiency in this population. Originality/value The targeted population were in a critical period of transition from adolescence toward adulthood involving in changes in behaviours and nutrition.


2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
J. Visser ◽  
K. Knight ◽  
L. Philips ◽  
W. Visser ◽  
M. Wallace ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
Nor Aini Jamil ◽  
Nurul Nadiah Shahudin ◽  
Nur Surfina Abdul Aziz ◽  
Chew Jia Qi ◽  
Wan Az Aleesa Wan Aminuddin ◽  
...  

This study assessed knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) related to vitamin D and its relationship with vitamin D status among Malay female office workers. A total of 147 women aged between 20 and 55 years were recruited from a university in Kuala Lumpur. They answered questionnaires related to KAP on vitamin D, sun exposure, dietary vitamin D intake and physical activity. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) was analysed using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Nearly half (45%) of the subjects had good knowledge but moderate attitude (76%) and practice (84%) towards sunlight exposure and dietary vitamin D intake. Median serum 25OHD was 34.1 nmol/L with the majority (91%) had vitamin D insufficiency (25OHD < 50 nmol/L). Knowledge was weakly associated with attitude (r = 0.29, p < 0.001) but no association was found between knowledge and practice (r = 0.08, p = 0.355) nor attitude and practice (r = −0.001, p = 0.994). Serum 25OHD was positively associated with sunlight exposure (r = 0.22, p = 0.008) and dietary vitamin D intake (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). It can be implied that this group is at increased risk of low bone health status, which highlights the needs of public health campaigns to improve their vitamin D status.


2021 ◽  
pp. jim-2020-001645
Author(s):  
Laura D Carbone ◽  
Karen Johnson ◽  
Joseph C Larson ◽  
Fridtjof Thomas ◽  
Jean Wactawski-Wende ◽  
...  

The relationship between vitamin D and glaucoma is controversial. The objective of this study was to examine women from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) to determine if there is an association between vitamin D and incident glaucoma in postmenopausal women. We examined the association between dietary vitamin D intake, vitamin D supplements and serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and the risk of developing glaucoma. 143,389 postmenopausal women from the WHI including a subset with serum 25(OH) D measurements were examined to determine the association of dietary, supplemental and serum levels of vitamin D to the development of glaucoma. Dietary intakes of vitamin D, use of vitamin D supplements and serum levels of 25(OH) D were predictors examined for the main outcome of incident glaucoma. In multivariable models adjusted for demographic, clinical variables and medication use, dietary vitamin D, vitamin D supplements, total vitamin D intake (diet plus supplements) and serum 25 (OH) D measurements were not significantly associated with incident glaucoma. In the CaD placebo-controlled intervention clinical trial, there was also no association in the active intervention arm with glaucoma. We conclude that dietary vitamin D intake, supplements and serum levels are not significantly related to the risk of developing glaucoma in postmenopausal women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 790-790
Author(s):  
Sarah Montgomery ◽  
Angella Lee ◽  
Nasime Sarbar ◽  
Deborah Zibrik ◽  
Yvonne Lamers

Abstract Objectives To assess maternal dietary intake and adequacy at postpartum and to determine whether lifestyle characteristics and breastfeeding status are related to nutrient intakes. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from a convenience sample of 129 mothers at 18-mo postpartum, whose families were enrolled into a randomized toddler intervention trial, in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, Canada. The Canadian Diet History Questionnaire II (C-DHQ II) was used to estimate usual dietary intake in the mothers during the preceding 12 months (i.e., between 6- to 18-mo postpartum). Implausible energy intakes were defined as &lt;600 kcal/day or &gt;3500 kcals/day, and excluded from analysis. Demographic and lifestyle characteristic data about the pregnancy and postpartum time period were collected using a questionnaire. Results Maternal mean (SD) age at birth was 33.5 (4.0) years and most women were of European (46%) or Asian (38%) ethnicity, and had Bachelor's degree or higher education (70%). About 75%, 88%, and 89% did not meet their dietary requirements (i.e., intake below the EAR) for fiber, potassium, and vitamin D intakes, from food only, respectively. Considering total dietary intake from food and supplements, the prevalence of dietary vitamin D inadequacy was 25%. Women of European ethnicity had higher vitamin D intake (median (IQR) in mg/1000kcal/day: 19.5 (7.26,101)) compared to Asian women (10.8 (3.87, 21.1); P &lt; 0.05). Dietary vitamin D intake was higher in breastfeeding (i.e., providing breastmilk as primary milk source, i.e., ³2 times/day, to their 18-mo old toddlers) compared to non- or occasionally breastfeeding mothers (20.0 (10.5, 61.1) versus 14.9 (4.28, 26.7) mg/1000kcal/day; P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions While most Canadian mothers in this sample met the EARs for most nutrients, the prevalence of dietary inadequacy was very high for vitamin D, potassium, and fiber. Some population groups may be especially at risk of developing nutrient deficiencies in this period of life characterized by postpartum recovery and transition; targeted public health strategies may be needed to address these deficiencies. Funding Sources This study is supported by The University of British Columbia, and the British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada, and is funded by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document