BACKGROUND: Adequate vitamin D status is important for bone growth and mineralization and has been implicated in the regulation of autoimmunity, metabolic function, and cancer prevention. There are no reports of population-based studies on the vitamin D status of Canadian youth, a population with mandatory fortification of foods. METHODS: We measured plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], the best indicator of vitamin D status, in a school-based cross-sectional sample of representative French Canadian youth (n = 1753) ages 9, 13, and 16 years living in Québec (latitude: 45 degrees-48 degrees N). Blood samples were collected from January to May 1999. We defined 25(OH)D deficiency as < or = 27.5 nmol/L, hypovitaminosis as < or = 37.5 nmol/L, and optimal as > 75.0 nmol/L. RESULTS: More than 93% of youth in each age and sex group had suboptimal 25(OH)D concentrations. The prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency increased with age in both sexes (P < 0.0001). It was 2%, 3%, and 13% in 9-, 13-, and 16-year-old boys and 2%, 8%, and 10% in 9-, 13-, and 16-year-old girls. Girls with higher body mass index and girls from households with lower income had lower 25(OH)D concentrations. These effects were not observed in boys. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate vitamin D status is a potentially serious public health problem among children and adolescents in Québec. Youth living at high latitudes in countries with and without mandatory fortification of vitamin D are likely at heightened risk of 25(OH)D deficiency. These results call for renewed efforts to ensure adequate vitamin D intake among growing children and adolescents.
BACKGROUND: Adequate vitamin D status is important for bone growth and mineralization and has been implicated in the regulation of autoimmunity, metabolic function, and cancer prevention. There are no reports of population-based studies on the vitamin D status of Canadian youth, a population with mandatory fortification of foods. METHODS: We measured plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], the best indicator of vitamin D status, in a school-based cross-sectional sample of representative French Canadian youth (n = 1753) ages 9, 13, and 16 years living in Québec (latitude: 45 degrees-48 degrees N). Blood samples were collected from January to May 1999. We defined 25(OH)D deficiency as < or = 27.5 nmol/L, hypovitaminosis as < or = 37.5 nmol/L, and optimal as > 75.0 nmol/L. RESULTS: More than 93% of youth in each age and sex group had suboptimal 25(OH)D concentrations. The prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency increased with age in both sexes (P < 0.0001). It was 2%, 3%, and 13% in 9-, 13-, and 16-year-old boys and 2%, 8%, and 10% in 9-, 13-, and 16-year-old girls. Girls with higher body mass index and girls from households with lower income had lower 25(OH)D concentrations. These effects were not observed in boys. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate vitamin D status is a potentially serious public health problem among children and adolescents in Québec. Youth living at high latitudes in countries with and without mandatory fortification of vitamin D are likely at heightened risk of 25(OH)D deficiency. These results call for renewed efforts to ensure adequate vitamin D intake among growing children and adolescents.
Authors: L S Greene-Finestone; C Berger; M de Groh; D A Hanley; N Hidiroglou; K Sarafin; S Poliquin; J Krieger; J B Richards; D Goltzman Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2010-08-21 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: Christina F Pelajo; Jorge M Lopez-Benitez; David M Kent; Lori Lyn Price; Laurie C Miller; Bess Dawson-Hughes Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2011-12-25 Impact factor: 2.631
Authors: Michelle Science; Jonathon L Maguire; Margaret L Russell; Marek Smieja; Stephen D Walter; Mark Loeb Journal: Paediatr Child Health Date: 2017-05-15 Impact factor: 2.253
Authors: Christopher Naugler; Jianguo Zhang; Dan Henne; Paul Woods; Brenda R Hemmelgarn Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-04-08 Impact factor: 3.295