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Vitamin D and Chronic Diseases among First-Generation Immigrants: A Large-Scale Study Using Canadian Health Measures
Said Yousef1,2, Ian Colman1, Manny Papadimitropoulos3,4
1Faculty of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada.
Nutrients
|May 14, 2022
Summary
First-generation immigrants in Canada generally have better health but experience chronic disease (CD) risk increases over time. Lower vitamin D (vitD) levels in immigrants may influence biomarkers, partially explaining health deterioration.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Immigration Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- First-generation immigrants constitute a significant portion of the Canadian population (22%).
- Understanding immigrant health trajectories and chronic disease (CD) prevalence is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the health status and long-term health deterioration of immigrants in Canada.
- To examine the relationship between chronic diseases and vitamin D status in immigrant populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from cycles 3 and 4 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2012-2015).
- Included health information, physical/blood measures (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [S-25(OH)D]), diagnosed CDs, self-reported health, and CD biomarkers.
- Analyzed data from 11,579 immigrants from over 153 countries.
Main Results:
- Immigrants generally exhibited better health status than non-immigrants.
- Higher prevalence of CDs was observed in those migrating at age 18+ and with longer duration in Canada.
- Lower mean S-25(OH)D was found in immigrants and was inversely associated with several CD-related biomarkers, but not directly with CD prevalence after adjustments.
Conclusions:
- Lower accumulated S-25(OH)D may contribute to immigrants' health profile and CD biomarker changes, partially explaining health deterioration.
- Further longitudinal research is recommended to explore the link between vitamin D status and immigrant health deterioration.
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