Risks of Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults

Researchers investigated the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in low risk and healthy adults…. 

Vitamin D is vital for musculoskeletal health, especially for bone. Low levels of vitamin D can affect the body’s ability to absorb and utilize calcium potentially leading to health problems including major diseases such as osteoporosis.

A total of 634 healthy volunteers, aged 18-50 years, was recruited and studied from January, 2006 to May, 2008. Researchers measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and parathyroid hormone and analyzed the demographic variables. Vitamin D deficiency is classified by three different thresholds of 25(OH)D ≤10, ≤20, and ≤30 ng/mL. Gathering all the information, a linear regression model of 25(OH)D levels using sex, age, self-identified race, self-identified ethnicity were developed.

According to researchers, "The prevalence was particularly high among black subjects, who are known to be at higher risk, as well as among Asian subjects who are less well-described. Otherwise healthy white subjects also had significant rates of vitamin D deficiency. The predictions generated from this logistic regression model may serve as a guide to clinicians faced with the challenge of deciding whom to screen or empirically treat for vitamin D deficiency."

Endocr Pract. 2012 Nov-Dec;18(6):914-23. doi: 10.4158/EP12072.OR.