Joshua P Sutherland1, Ang Zhou2, Matthew J Leach3, Elina Hyppönen4. 1. Australian Centre for Precision Health, Unit of Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: joshua.sutherland@mymail.unisa.edu.au. 2. Australian Centre for Precision Health, Unit of Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. 3. National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, Australia. 4. Australian Centre for Precision Health, Unit of Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: elina.hypponen@unisa.edu.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The public health relevance of true vitamin D deficiency is undisputed, although controversy remains regarding optimal vitamin D status. Few contemporary cross-ethnic studies have investigated the prevalence and determinants of very low 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations. METHODS: We conducted cross-ethnic analyses on the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D ≤ 25 nmol/L) using data from 440,581 UK Biobank participants, of which 415,903 identified as White European, 7880 Asian, 7602 Black African, 1383 Chinese, and 6473 of mixed ancestry. Determinants of vitamin D deficiency were examined by logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was highest among participants of Asian ancestry (57.2% in winter/spring and 50.8% in summer/autumn) followed by those of Black African ancestry (38.5% and 30.8%, respectively), mixed (36.5%, 22.5%), Chinese (33.1%, 20.7%) and White European ancestry (17.5%, 5.9%). Participants with higher socioeconomic deprivation were more likely to have 25(OH)D deficiency compared to less deprived participants (P = <1 × 10-300); this pattern was more apparent among those of White European ancestry and in summer (Pinteraction ≤6.4 × 10-5 for both). In fully-adjusted analyses, regular consumption of oily fish was associated with reduced odds of vitamin D deficiency across all ethnicities, while outdoor-time in summer was less effective for Black Africans (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.70, 1.12) than White Europeans (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.38, 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Severe vitamin D deficiency remains an issue throughout the UK, particularly in lower socioeconomic areas. In some groups, levels of deficiency are alarmingly high with one-half of Asian and one-third of Black African ancestry populations affected across seasons. KEY MESSAGES: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the UK is alarming, with certain ethnic and socioeconomic groups considered particularly vulnerable.
BACKGROUND: The public health relevance of true vitamin D deficiency is undisputed, although controversy remains regarding optimal vitamin D status. Few contemporary cross-ethnic studies have investigated the prevalence and determinants of very low 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations. METHODS: We conducted cross-ethnic analyses on the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D ≤ 25 nmol/L) using data from 440,581 UK Biobank participants, of which 415,903 identified as White European, 7880 Asian, 7602 Black African, 1383 Chinese, and 6473 of mixed ancestry. Determinants of vitamin D deficiency were examined by logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was highest among participants of Asian ancestry (57.2% in winter/spring and 50.8% in summer/autumn) followed by those of Black African ancestry (38.5% and 30.8%, respectively), mixed (36.5%, 22.5%), Chinese (33.1%, 20.7%) and White European ancestry (17.5%, 5.9%). Participants with higher socioeconomic deprivation were more likely to have 25(OH)D deficiency compared to less deprived participants (P = <1 × 10-300); this pattern was more apparent among those of White European ancestry and in summer (Pinteraction ≤6.4 × 10-5 for both). In fully-adjusted analyses, regular consumption of oily fish was associated with reduced odds of vitamin Ddeficiency across all ethnicities, while outdoor-time in summer was less effective for Black Africans (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.70, 1.12) than White Europeans (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.38, 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Severe vitamin D deficiency remains an issue throughout the UK, particularly in lower socioeconomic areas. In some groups, levels of deficiency are alarmingly high with one-half of Asian and one-third of Black African ancestry populations affected across seasons. KEY MESSAGES: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the UK is alarming, with certain ethnic and socioeconomic groups considered particularly vulnerable.
Authors: Eleni Syrimi; Eanna Fennell; Alex Richter; Pavle Vrljicak; Richard Stark; Sascha Ott; Paul G Murray; Eslam Al-Abadi; Ashish Chikermane; Pamela Dawson; Scott Hackett; Deepthi Jyothish; Hari Krishnan Kanthimathinathan; Sean Monaghan; Prasad Nagakumar; Barnaby R Scholefield; Steven Welch; Naeem Khan; Sian Faustini; Kate Davies; Wioleta M Zelek; Pamela Kearns; Graham S Taylor Journal: iScience Date: 2021-10-02