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Higher vitamin D intake is needed to achieve serum 25(OH)D levels greater than 50 nmol/l in Québec youth at high risk of obesity

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 486–492 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Vitamin D levels are often observed to be low in Canadian youth, despite the mandatory fortification of fluid milk. We identified modifiable correlates of plasma vitamin D concentrations to inform public health efforts to remediate low-vitamin D status.

Subjects/Methods:

We recruited 159 children aged 8–11 years, who were at at high risk of obesity, non-systematically during different seasons. Vitamin D status was assessed by measuring plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) using a radioimmunoassay. Dietary intake, including vitamin supplements, was measured using three dietitian-administered 24 h diet recalls. Fat mass was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Accelerometers were worn for 7 days to estimate physical activity. Independent correlates of plasma 25(OH)D concentrations were identified using multiple regression in an analysis controlling for season of measurement.

Results:

Approximately, 7% of youth had hypovitaminosis D (25(OH)D ⩽37.5 nmol/l) during winter and spring when vitamin D levels are at their nadir. Only 55% of participants had vitamin D levels, which the Institute of Medicine considers optimal (25(OH)D >50 nmol/l). The mean dietary vitamin D intake, 6.6 mcg, was well below current recommendations set at 15 mcg. A serving increase in milk consumption and a s.d. increase in physical activity were associated with only a 2.9 and 2.1 nmol/l increase in plasma 25(OH)D, respectively. There was no association between 25(OH)D and adiposity.

Conclusions:

Our results indicate the challenges of obtaining adequate vitamin D intake from the current food supply to support a level of 25(OD)D >50 nmol/l.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (FRSQ), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and an unrestricted grant from The Centrum Foundation. JO’L, holds a Canada Research Chair in the Childhood Determinants of Adult Chronic Disease. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of James Hanley and Catherine Sabiston for his helpful insights into the statistical procedures and the accelerometer data, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    S Mark & K Gray-Donald

  2. Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine and University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    M Lambert

  3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, CHU Sainte-Justine and University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    E E Delvin

  4. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    J O'Loughlin

  5. Division of Kinesiology, Laval University, Quebec, Canada

    A Tremblay

  6. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health,

    K Gray-Donald

  7. McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    K Gray-Donald

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  1. S Mark
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  2. M Lambert
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  3. E E Delvin
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  4. J O'Loughlin
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Correspondence to K Gray-Donald.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Contributors: SM designed the research, analyzed data and wrote the paper. ML conducted and designed the research, oversaw the laboratory analysis of vitamin D and wrote the paper. ED oversaw the laboratory analysis of vitamin D and wrote the paper. JO’L and AT conducted the research and wrote the paper. KGD wrote the paper, designed the research and was responsible for the final content. All of the authors reviewed the manuscript critically for intellectual content and approved the final version to be published.

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Mark, S., Lambert, M., Delvin, E. et al. Higher vitamin D intake is needed to achieve serum 25(OH)D levels greater than 50 nmol/l in Québec youth at high risk of obesity. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 486–492 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.5

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