AIMS: Cultural and biological factors place immigrant women from equatorial Africa at increased risk of vitamin D insufficiency. This could in part explain the high prevalence of fatigue, musculoskeletal complaints, and depressive symptoms in this population. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of East African immigrant women in Washington State, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum concentrations and multiple measures of physical and psychological symptoms were assessed. Mean serum 25(OH)D serum concentrations and chi-square were used to assess differences between groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore differences in the symptoms of subjects with varying degrees of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. RESULTS: Of the 75 women interviewed and who completed surveys, 25(OH)D serum samples were available in 71 subjects. All were found to have low 25(OH)D; 9 (12.3%) had <or=8 ng/mL, 29 (40.9%) had 8.1-15 ng/mL, and 33 (44.9%) had 15.1-30 ng/mL. After controlling for age, women with 25(OH)D < 15 ng/mL were 66% less likely to drink milk than women with 25(OH)D >or= 15 ng/mL (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-0.99). Musculoskeletal complaints, depressive symptoms, and fatigue did not correlate with the severity of 25(OH)D insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D insufficiency, as reflected by low 25(OH)D serum concentrations, was a universal finding in this group of women, suggesting the need for widespread education and intervention in this and other immigrant groups at northern latitudes.
AIMS: Cultural and biological factors place immigrant women from equatorial Africa at increased risk of vitamin Dinsufficiency. This could in part explain the high prevalence of fatigue, musculoskeletal complaints, and depressive symptoms in this population. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of East African immigrant women in Washington State, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum concentrations and multiple measures of physical and psychological symptoms were assessed. Mean serum 25(OH)D serum concentrations and chi-square were used to assess differences between groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore differences in the symptoms of subjects with varying degrees of vitamin Ddeficiency/insufficiency. RESULTS: Of the 75 women interviewed and who completed surveys, 25(OH)D serum samples were available in 71 subjects. All were found to have low 25(OH)D; 9 (12.3%) had <or=8 ng/mL, 29 (40.9%) had 8.1-15 ng/mL, and 33 (44.9%) had 15.1-30 ng/mL. After controlling for age, women with 25(OH)D < 15 ng/mL were 66% less likely to drink milk than women with 25(OH)D >or= 15 ng/mL (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-0.99). Musculoskeletal complaints, depressive symptoms, and fatigue did not correlate with the severity of 25(OH)D insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS:Vitamin Dinsufficiency, as reflected by low 25(OH)D serum concentrations, was a universal finding in this group of women, suggesting the need for widespread education and intervention in this and other immigrant groups at northern latitudes.
Authors: Shereem Mohamed Olama; Mohammed K Senna; Mohammed Mohamed Elarman; Galal Elhawary Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2012-02-04 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Michelle Y O'Connor; Caroline K Thoreson; Natalie L M Ramsey; Madia Ricks; Anne E Sumner Journal: Prog Cardiovasc Dis Date: 2013 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 8.194
Authors: Caroline K Thoreson; Stephanie T Chung; Madia Ricks; James C Reynolds; Alan T Remaley; Vipul Periwal; Yanjun Li; Anne E Sumner Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2015-05-23 Impact factor: 4.507