1. Decrease in vitamin D status in the Greenlandic adult population from 1987-2010
- Author
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Nielsen, Nina O, Jørgensen, Marit E, Friis, Henrik, Melbye, Mads, Soborg, Bolette, Jeppesen, Charlotte, Lundqvist, Marika, Cohen, Arieh, Hougaard, David M, and Bjerregaard, Peter
- Subjects
Gerontology ,Adult ,Male ,Adolescent ,Alcohol Drinking ,Epidemiology ,Population ,Greenland ,Adult population ,lcsh:Medicine ,vitamin D deficiency ,Ethnic Epidemiology ,Animal science ,Vitamin D and neurology ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,Medicine ,Humans ,Public and Occupational Health ,Vitamin D ,education ,lcsh:Science ,Aged ,Nutrition ,education.field_of_study ,Multidisciplinary ,business.industry ,Time trends ,Arctic Regions ,Dietary intake ,lcsh:R ,Biology and Life Sciences ,Feeding Behavior ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Vitamin D Deficiency ,Diet ,Biomarker Epidemiology ,Dietary Supplements ,Alcohol intake ,Female ,lcsh:Q ,Sun exposure ,business ,Research Article - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low vitamin D status may be pronounced in Arctic populations due to limited sun exposure and decreasing intake of traditional food.OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum 25(OH)D3 as a measure of vitamin D status among adult Inuit in Greenland, predictors of low serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations and the trend from 1987 to 2005-2010.DESIGN: A total of 2877 randomly selected Inuit (≥18 years) from the Inuit Health in Transition study were included. A sub-sample (n = 330) donated a blood sample in 1987 which allowed assessment of time trends in vitamin D status.RESULTS: The geometric mean serum 25(OH)D3 (25[OH]D2 concentrations were negligible and not reported) in 2005-2010 was lowest among the 18-29 year old individuals (30.7 nmol/L; 95% CI: 29.7; 31.7) and increased with age. In all age-groups it decreased from 1987 to 2005-2010 (32%-58%). Low 25(OH)D3 concentrations (CONCLUSION: We identified a remarkable decrease in vitamin D status from 1987 to 2005-2010 and a presently low vitamin D status among Inuit in Greenland. A change away from a traditional diet may well explain the observed decline. The study argues for the need of increased dietary intake of vitamin D and supplementation might be considered.
- Published
- 2014