Hypovitaminosis D in a normal, apparently healthy urban European population.

Serum 25 OH Vitamin D (25 OH D) concentrations generally vary with latitude, season, and the composition of the population studied. There is a growing recognition that rather than a seasonal specific decline in serum 25 OH Vitamin D, a significant proportion of the population may exhibit asymtomatic subclinical Vitamin D insufficiency. Vitamin D insufficiency has been described in populations at risk, such as nursing home residents and the homebound elderly. We assessed a population of normal, apparently healthy volunteers at a single European urban center for 25 OH Vitamin D sufficiency. Serum 25 OH D concentrations were determined using an automated LIAISON((R)) 25 OH Vitamin D assay. For the purposes of this study, Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as a serum 25 OH Vitamin D concentration of <15 ng/mL. Of the total population (n = 126) 34% exhibited 25 OH Vitamin D concentrations of <15 ng/ml. The mean +/- S.D. serum 25 OH Vitamin D concentration among the total, sufficient, and insufficient populations was 19.4 +/- 7.7, 23.6 +/- 6.4, and 12.1 +/- 2.3 ng/mL. From these data, we conclude that 25 OH Vitamin D insufficiency is more common than previously thought, and is not restricted to high-risk groups.