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Minerals, trace elements, Vit. D and bone health

Familial clustering of vitamin D deficiency via shared environment: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2012

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 72, pages 1700–1708 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

Familial correlation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (25(OH)D) was reported in twin- or parent-offspring studies. However, data on relative contribution of environmental factors on familial clustering of 25(OH)D in extended families are limited.

Subjects/methods

We performed cross-sectional study using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008–2012. Familial correlations of 25(OH)D were estimated in 28,551 subjects from 10,882 families. The variance component method was used to assess the relative contribution of additive genetic or environmental contributions to the variation in 25(OH)D level. Logistic regression models with interaction term were built to evaluate the differential influence of parental vitamin D status on the adolescents and adults offspring.

Results

Mean serum 25(OH)D concentration of subjects was 44.6 nmol/L (vitamin D insufficiency (30–50 nmol/L), 51%; vitamin D deficiency ( < 30 nmol/L), 17%). Familial clustering explained 40% of the total variation in 25(OH)D. In the variance component model, 4%, 39%, and 57% of the variation in serum 25(OH)D level was attributed to additive genetic, common shared environmental, and individual environmental factors, respectively. The odds of vitamin D deficiency in offspring with both parents with vitamin D deficiency compared with those with both parents with sufficient vitamin D levels was greater in adolescents ( < 19 years) than in adults ( ≥ 19 years) (odds ratio = 41.1 vs. 12.5; p for interaction = 0.03).

Conclusions

We found a familial clustering of vitamin D deficiency in a large family-based cohort. Parental influence on vitamin D status of offspring was greater in adolescents than in adults.

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Acknowledgements

NH, YKL, and YR designed research. NH and YKL conducted research and analyzed data. NH, YKL, and YR wrote the paper. YR had primary responsibility for final content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. This study was not funded by any industrial, commercial, or governmental sources.

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Namki Hong, Young Ki Lee.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital, Endocrine Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Namki Hong, Young Ki Lee & Yumie Rhee

  2. Graduate School, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Namki Hong

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Correspondence to Yumie Rhee.

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Hong, N., Lee, Y.K. & Rhee, Y. Familial clustering of vitamin D deficiency via shared environment: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2012. Eur J Clin Nutr 72, 1700–1708 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0157-3

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