Short Communication
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 1035–1038. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602414; published online 15 February 2006
Vitamin D fortification as public health policy: significant improvement in vitamin D status in young Finnish men
Guarantor: IT Laaksi.
Contributors: ITL and J-PSR were involved in designing the study and collected and analysed the data. AA was involved in data analysis and statistical analysis. RIH was involved in statistical analysis. TJY, HKP and PJT were involved in study design and data analysis. ITL wrote the first draft of the paper and all authors contributed to the final draft.
I T Laaksi1, J-P S Ruohola2, T J Ylikomi1,3, A Auvinen4, R I Haataja5, H K Pihlajamäki6,7 and P J Tuohimaa3,8
- 1Department of Cell Biology, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
- 2Garrison Hospital, Pori Brigade, Finnish Defence Forces, Säkylä, Finland
- 3Department of clinical chemistry, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- 4Department of Epidemiology, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
- 5Department of Biometrics, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
- 6Department of Medical Services, Defence Staff, Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland
- 7Institute of Military Medicine, Central Military Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- 8Department of anatomy, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
Correspondence: Dr IT Laaksi, Department of Cell Biology, Medical School, University of Tampere, Medisinarinkatu 3, Tampere 33014, Finland. E-mail: ilkka.laaksi@uta.fi
Received 1 May 2005; Revised 31 October 2005; Accepted 5 January 2006; Published online 15 February 2006.
Abstract
Background:
Vitamin D insufficiency is common in northern countries during wintertime. In Finland, after the recommendation by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, vitamin D has been added to liquid milk products and margarines from February 2003.
Objective:
We determined the effects of national policy on vitamin D fortification on vitamin D status among young Finnish men.
Design:
A comparison before and after intervention with study population of 196 young Finnish men (18–28 years) was carried out. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) concentrations were determined with the OCTEIA® enzymeimmunoassay by IDS (Immunodiagnostic Systems Limited, Bolden, UK) in January 2003 (n=96) and in January 2004 (n=100), nearly 1 year after national vitamin D fortification had started.
Results:
The mean serum 25-OHD3 concentrations during the wintertime increased by 50% after implementation of the vitamin D fortification of dairy products. Correspondingly, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25-OHD3 <40 nmol/l) was decreased by 50% from 78% in January 2003 to 35% in January 2004.
Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate that national vitamin D fortification substantially improved the vitamin D status of young Finnish men. Still, a third remained vitamin D insufficient.
Keywords:
vitamin D, insufficiency, milk, fortification, wintertime, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 25-OHD3
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