Potentially modifiable determinants of vitamin D status in an older population in the Netherlands: the Hoorn Study

Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Mar;85(3):755-61. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/85.3.755.

Abstract

Background: Inadequate vitamin D status is common in many populations around the world.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate potentially modifiable determinants of vitamin D status in an older population.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study from a population-based cohort including 538 white Dutch men and women aged 60-87 y. Vitamin D status was assessed by plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations.

Results: In the winter period, 51% of the subjects had 25(OH)D concentrations <50.0 nmol/L. Greater body fatness and less time spent on outdoor physical activity were associated with worse vitamin D status. Regular use of vitamin D-fortified margarine products [odds ratio (OR) in a comparison of intake of >or=20 g/d with none: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.86; P for trend < 0.001], fatty fish (OR for servings of >or=2/mo versus none: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.16, 1.04; P for trend = 0.01), and vitamin D-containing supplements (OR for >or= 1/d versus none: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.63; P for trend < 0.001) were inversely associated with vitamin D inadequacy [25(OH)D <50.0 nmol/L]. We estimated that combined use of margarine products (20 g/d), fatty fish (100 g/wk), and vitamin D supplements (>or=1/d) was associated with a 16.8 nmol/L higher 25(OH)D concentration than was the use of none of these. However, none of the participants reached these intakes for all 3 factors.

Conclusion: Because few foods are vitamin D-fortified and the amounts of vitamin D in supplements are low, it is difficult to achieve adequate vitamin D status through increasing intakes in the Netherlands and in countries with similar policies.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / anatomy & histology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Calcifediol / blood*
  • Diet
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands
  • Obesity / blood
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Smoking
  • Vitamin D / metabolism*

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • Calcifediol