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Vitamin D insufficiency in Aboriginal Australians
Simon J Vanlint1, Howard A Morris, Jonathan W Newbury
1Discipline of General Practice, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. simon.vanlint@adelaide.edu.au
Vitamin D insufficiency is common in South Australian Aboriginal adults, with low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels observed across seasons, except summer. This highlights a significant public health concern for bone health and calcium homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional biochemistry
- Public health
- Bone mineral metabolism
Background:
- Vitamin D status is crucial for calcium and bone health.
- Assessing vitamin D adequacy in specific populations is essential for targeted interventions.
- South Australian Aboriginal populations may have unique factors influencing vitamin D levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine vitamin D status in South Australian Aboriginal adults.
- To explore associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and calcium/bone homeostasis markers.
- To investigate factors affecting vitamin D metabolism in this population.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of 58 Aboriginal adults in South Australia.
- Measurements included serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), glucose, and beta-C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTx).
- Data collected between May 2008 and December 2009.
Main Results:
- Mean serum 25-OHD was 56.8 nmol/L, below the recommended 60 nmol/L.
- Serum 25-OHD showed seasonal variation, higher in summer (P < 0.001).
- 25-OHD correlated with β-CTx (P = 0.03) but not age, BMI, PTH, or glucose. BMI correlated with PTH (P = 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in this adult Aboriginal Australian population.
- Low mean 25-OHD levels were found in all seasons except summer.
- Findings underscore the need for strategies to improve vitamin D status in this community.
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