Quantifying vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia

Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration < 50 nmol/L) is prevalent among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. Alternative to sun exposure (the primary source of vitamin D), vitamin D can also be obtained from food (e.g. fish, eggs, and meat) and supplements. However, the vitamin D intake of this population group is unknown. We aimed to provide the first quantification of vitamin D intake using nationally representative data from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We used food consumption data collected in the 2012-2013 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (n = 4109) and vitamin D food composition data to quantify vitamin D intake by sex, age group, and remoteness of location. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to assess the difference in vitamin D intake between sexes and remoteness of location.

The median (25th, 75th percentile) vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged ≥ 2 years was 80 (45, 145) IU/day. Vitamin D intake was statistically significantly different between males and females (p = < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between vitamin D intake in non-remote and remote areas (p = 0.292).

Vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is low. Food-based public health strategies guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and communities could be developed to promote higher vitamin D intake among this population.