Vitamin D deficiency in Ukraine: current evidence

Data from numerous studies demonstrate the high frequency of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and insufficiency (VDI) in many countries worldwide that depend on age and sex, seasons, country, and concomitant pathology. This research aimed to study vitamin D status in the Ukrainian population during 2016-2022 years depending on age, sex, month, and year of the observation, and compare the results with the data of previous Ukrainian epidemiologic studies.

In a single-center cohort study, we analyzed the serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level in 7,418 subjects aged 20-99 years. The analysis was performed depending on age, sex, month, season, and year of the observation. Also, we compared the results with the data of previous Ukrainian studies. 25(OH)D level was measured using the electrochemiluminescence method.

The mean serum 25(OH)D level in the total group was 31.0 [22.3-41.1] ng/mL, the lowest level was in the age group 90-99 years old. No gender differences were found in 25(OH)D levels, except the one for the women aged 60-69 years old who had higher vitamin D levels compared to male parameters. 41.6% of the subjects had an optimal (> 30-50 ng/mL) 25(OH)D level, 27.3% had VDI, and 19.5% had a VDD. The suboptimal and high serum concentration of 25(OH)D (> 50-100 ng/mL) was found in 11.4% of the subjects. Also, we established the increase of serum 25(OH)D level from 2016 to 2022 with the highest values in 2020-2022. Seasonal variations of 25(OH)D concentration confirmed the highest index in autumn (33.0 [24.0-42.4] ng/mL) and the lowest one in the spring (28.5 [19.7-38.7] ng/mL) with the highest 25(OH)D level in September and the lowest one in March.

Our results confirmed a decrease in VDD and VDI in 2020-2022 in the Ukrainian population compared to the previous years (2016-2019) and previous Ukrainian studies with similar age and seasonal particularities. It may be the consequence of an improvement in public awareness of global vitamin D deficiency, its positive skeletal and extra-skeletal effects, as well as more intensive vitamin D supplementation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the recent years.