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Interventions and public health nutrition

Predictors of vitamin D status in subjects that consume a vitamin D supplement

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, pages 84–89 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objective:

Although dietary supplement use has increased significantly among the general population, the interplay between vitamin D supplementation and other factors that influence vitamin D status remains unclear. The objective of this study was to identify predictor variables of vitamin D status in free-living subjects to determine the extent to which vitamin D supplements and other factors influence vitamin D status.

Subjects/Methods:

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study involving 743 volunteers. Serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) level and the variables diet, supplement usage, latitude of residence, ethnicity, age and body mass index (BMI) were used to predict vitamin D status in a summer and winter cohort.

Results:

Supplemental vitamin D3 consumption was the most significant positive predictor, whereas BMI was the most significant negative predictor, of vitamin D status in each cohort. Other positive predictors were fortified beverage and dairy consumption in the summer and winter cohort, respectively. Negative predictors were: African American, Asian and Hispanic race in the summer; latitude of residence >36°N, Asian and Hispanic ethnicity in the winter. Mean(±s.d.) 25(OH)D levels were 101.1 (±42.1) and 92.6 (±39.0) nmol/l in summer and winter, respectively. Comparing non-supplement vs supplement users, approximately 38 vs 2.5% in the winter and 18 vs 1.4% in the summer had vitamin D levels <50 nmol/l.

Conclusions:

Vitamin D supplementation was the most significant positive predictor of vitamin D status. Collectively, these data point to the practicality of utilizing vitamin D supplements to reduce hypovitaminosis D in adults throughout the United States.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank MM. Gandelman for valuable comments and suggestions on the manuscript

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

All authors critically reviewed and approved of the final manuscript. The authors' responsibilities were as follows—MAL, BMD and TB: had primary responsibility for the content; MAL performed the statistical analysis; BMD, TB, AD and JR: contributed to the statistical analysis; TM, TH, JC, TW and BMD designed the study; TM and BMD directed the study.

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Author notes

  1. M A Levy and T McKinnon: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. USANA Health Sciences, Inc. 3838 West Parkway Blvd,

    M A Levy, T McKinnon, A Dern, T Helland, J Robertson, J Cuomo, T Wood & B M Dixon

  2. Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    M A Levy, T McKinnon, A Dern, T Helland, J Robertson, J Cuomo, T Wood & B M Dixon

  3. The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, 5848 South Fashion Blvd,

    T Barker

  4. Murray, KY, USA

    T Barker

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Correspondence to B M Dixon.

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With the exception of TB, each author is currently (ML, TM, JR, JC, TW & BD) or was formerly (AD, TH) employed by USANA Health Sciences which funded this work. This manuscript was prepared on company time. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Levy, M., McKinnon, T., Barker, T. et al. Predictors of vitamin D status in subjects that consume a vitamin D supplement. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 84–89 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.133

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