Search

Background: Cardioprotective properties have been associated with two fatty acids-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The Omega-3 Index indicates the percentage of EPA+DHA in red blood cell fatty acids. Omega-3 Index levels of the Canadian population have not been directly measured., Data and Methods: Data for respondents aged 20 to 79 from cycle 3 (2012/2013) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey were used to calculate means and the prevalence of Omega-3 Index coronary heart disease (CHD) risk cut-offs-high (4% or less), moderate (more than 4% to less than 8%), and low (8% or more)-by sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, including fish consumption and use of omega-3 supplements. Associations between the Omega-3 Index and CHD-related factors including biomarkers, risk factors, and previous CHD events, were examined in multivariate regression models., Results: The mean Omega-3 Index level of Canadians aged 20 to 79 was 4.5%. Levels were higher for women, older adults, Asians and other non-white Canadians, omega-3 supplement users, and fish consumers; levels were lower for smokers and people who were obese. Fewer than 3% of adults had levels associated with low CHD risk; 43% had levels associated with high risk. No CHD-related factor was associated with the Omega-3 Index when control variables were taken into account., Interpretation: Omega-3 Index levels among Canadian adults were strongly related to age, race, supplement use, fish consumption, smoking status and obesity. Fewer than 3% of adults had Omega-3 Index levels associated with low risk for CHD.

Background: The 2011 Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for vitamin D use 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations to define vitamin D deficiency (<30 nmol/L), the Estimated Average Requirement (40 nmol/L), and the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA; 50 nmol/L). The Canadian population has not yet been assessed according to these recommendations., Objective: We determined the prevalence of meeting DRI recommendations and the role of vitamin D supplement use among Canadians aged 6-79 y., Design: Plasma 25(OH)D from a representative sample of Canadians in the Canadian Health Measures Survey-Cycle 1 (n = 5306) were used. Supplement use was assessed by household interview. Concentrations of 25(OH)D were compared in supplement users and nonusers by season and race., Results: Overall, 5.4%, 12.7%, and 25.7% of the participants had 25(OH)D concentrations below the 30-, 40-, and 50-nmol/L cutoffs, respectively. In white Canadians, plasma 25(OH)D concentrations ranged from an undetectable percentage with concentrations <30 nmol/L in summer to 24.5% with concentrations <50 nmol/L in winter; the corresponding values ranged from 12.5% to 53.1% in nonwhite Canadians. Supplement users had significantly higher 25(OH)D concentrations than did nonusers, and no seasonal differences were found. In nonsupplement users, the prevalence of 25(OH)D concentrations <50 nmol/L in winter was 37.2% overall and was 60.7% in nonwhites., Conclusions: One-quarter of Canadians did not meet the RDA, but the use of vitamin D supplements contributed to a better 25(OH)D status. Nonwhite Canadians had the highest risk of not achieving DRI recommendations. More than one-third of Canadians not using supplements did not meet the RDA in winter. This suggests that current food choices alone are insufficient to maintain 25(OH)D concentrations of 50 nmol/L in many Canadians, especially in winter.

Background The Omega-3 Index (OI) is a proposed marker of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Another index, the EPA/arachidonic acid (AA) ratio has also been proposed as a possible risk marker for CAD. Objective Our primary objective was to characterize the Canadian population subgroups that have an undesirable OI (<4%, associated with high CAD risk) and to identify the participants' characteristics most strongly associated with the OI. Our secondary objective was to identify the characteristics most strongly associated with the EPA/AA ratio. Design Data from 4025 adult participants of cycles 3 and 4 (2012–2015) of the cross-sectional Canadian Health Measures Survey were pooled. Adjusted mean proportions of erythrocyte membrane ω-3 (n–3) fatty acids, total ω-6 fatty acids, and ratios were analyzed by sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle characteristics using covariate-adjusted models. Results The mean OI was 4.5%. Almost 40% of Canadians had an undesirable (<4%) OI. ω-3 supplement use, fish intake, and race were the variables most strongly associated with OI scores. The prevalence of undesirable OI was significantly higher among participants consuming fish less than twice a week (43.8%; 95% CI: 39.0%, 48.6%) than among those consuming more fish (12.7%; 95% CI: 7.8%, 19.9%), among smokers (62.7%; 95% CI: 52.9%, 71.7%) than nonsmokers (33.4%; 95% CI: 29.4%, 37.7%), in whites (42.7%; 95% CI: 38.2%, 47.4%) than in Asians (23.0%; 95% CI: 15.4%, 33.0%), and in adults aged 20–39 y (49.6%; 95% CI: 42.3%, 56.9%) than in those aged 60–79 y (24.4%; 95% CI: 21.0%, 28.1%). ω-3 supplement intake and fish intake were the characteristics most strongly associated with EPA/AA. All P  ≤ 0.05. Conclusions An important proportion of Canadian adults has an undesirable (<4%) OI, with higher prevalence in some subgroups. Further assessment is required to determine the value and feasibility of an increase in the population's OI to the currently proposed target of ≥8% as a potential public health objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is evidence that 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are lower in overweight and obese youth. This study examined the relationship between weight status and 25-hydroxyvitamin D, while controlling for confounders, in Canadian youth. Methods: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D from subjects aged 6 to 17 years from the Canadian Health Measures Survey cycles 1 (2007 to 2009) and 2 (2009 to 2011) was used. Sex-specific multiple linear regression and logistic regressions examined the relationship of overweight and obesity (body mass index = 85th percentile) with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the odds of 25-hydroxyvitamin D <40 nmol/L and <50 nmol/L. Results: The prevalence of risk of vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D < 30 nmol/L) was 6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.26% to 10.12%). Vitamin D inadequacy, estimated by levels <40 nmol/L, was 15% (95% CI 10.34% to 20.39%; 19% [95% CI 13.1 to 25.6] for teenagers). Seventy per cent (95% CI 63.59 to 75.17) had levels >50 nmol/L, consistent with achieving the Recommended Dietary Allowance. In adjusted analyses, overweight/obesity (1/3 of subjects) was independently associated with lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D for both sexes after adjustment for age, race, income, season, vitamin D supplementation and daily milk consumption. For 25-hydroxyvitamin D <40 nmol/L, the overweight/obese odds ratio for males was 2.63 (95% CI 1.34 to 5.18). For 25-hydroxyvitamin D <50 nmol/L, overweight/obese odds ratios were 2.19 (95% CI 1.46 to 3.28) for males and 1.39 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.84) for females. Conclusions: This study confirms the inverse association between adiposity and serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Canadian youth and the independent association of overweight/obesity to 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and vitamin D status after adjustment for other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although vitamin C is not produced in the body, it is important for many biochemical and physiological functions. Little is known about the current vitamin C status of Canadians. This study describes the correlates of vitamin C status in a nationally representative sample of adults. Data and methods: Data are from the 2012/2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Plasma vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) concentrations were measured among a fasting subsample of respondents aged 20 to 79 (n = 1,615). Vitamin C status, prevalence of deficiency (plasma vitamin C < 11 μmol/L), and use of vitamin C-containing supplements were estimated. Multivariate regression models were used to examine associations between vitamin C status and sociodemographic characteristics, smoking, body mass index, supplement use, and consumption of fruit juice and citrus fruit. Results: The mean plasma vitamin C concentration of adults aged 20 to 79 was 53 μmol/L; fewer than 3% were vitamin C-deficient. Almost 22% took a vitamin C-containing supplement. Concentrations were lower among smokers and people who were obese, and higher among vitamin C supplement users and fruit juice and citrus fruit consumers. Multivariate models showed that supplement use was the strongest and most consistent predictor of vitamin C status; fruit juice and citrus fruit consumption were predictors only among populations with lower vitamin C concentrations (for example, smokers, obese). Interpretation: Few Canadians were vitamin C-deficient. Smokers and people with a higher BMI were most at risk of lower vitamin C concentrations; concentrations were higher among supplement users and consumers of fruit juice and citrus fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canadians using supplements containing vitamin D are more likely to have 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels consistent with the Recommended Dietary Allowance, particularly with the low UVB exposure during the winter. This study aimed to determine these users' characteristics and to examine the relationship between dosage and 25(OH)D using the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey ( n = 5604, 6-79 years of age). Logistic regression models examined the odds of supplement use within the preceding 30 days. Thirty-one percent used vitamin D supplements; 58.5% were female. In adjusted analyses, females' odds of supplement use were lower for those 12-19 years old (odds ratio (OR), 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.96) and higher for those 60-79 years old (OR, 4.19; 95% CI, 2.69-6.64) and 40-59 years old (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.10-2.20) compared with those 20-39 years old; their odds of supplement use were also higher for those of higher income (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.26-4.16) and middle income (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.03-2.46), those reporting ≥1 chronic disease (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.06-2.06), and those consuming milk ≥1 time·day−1 (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.14-1.60). For males, increased use was associated with age 60-79 years (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.54-3.77) and 6-11 years (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.19-2.64) and higher income (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.49-3.00) and middle income (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.04-2.31). Use did not vary significantly by race, education, season, body mass index, health, or physical activity. A total of 35.7% of Canadians >50 years old took ≥400 IU of vitamin D; 25(OH)D increased with increasing supplement dosage ( r = 0.33) in winter, but differences between 1-399 IU and 400-999 IU were not significant. Usage and nonusage patterns are important to consider as ways of improving vitamin D intake are pursued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]