Vitamin D deficiency in a nonrandom sample of southeast Alaska Natives

Serum vitamin D has recently been inversely associated with risk for type 2 diabetes. Recent literature suggests that many more individuals than generally thought suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Southeast Alaskan Natives are at an increased risk due to limited sunlight exposure and possible inadequate vitamin D intake. Therefore, the relationship between vitamin D and glucose should be investigated specifically in the southeast Alaska Native population. A review of lab records yielded 83 charts of patients found to have a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D during a 2-year period. Upon review of these charts, only nine of 83 vitamin D levels were found to exceed the 32 ng/mL (80 nmol/L) threshold. Age and vitamin D levels were associated in a positive linear relationship (r=0.354, P=0.028). The patients in the lowest vitamin D quartile were younger in age compared to the highest quartile (14.6 years, 95% confidence interval: 4.9, 24.29; P=0.004). The high rate of deficiency noted in this sample suggests this population should be further assessed for vitamin D deficiency. Future studies are needed to confirm the association between a vitamin D deficiency and diabetes incidence in this population.