Vitamin D status is associated with sun exposure, vitamin D and calcium intake, acculturation and attitudes in immigrant East Asian women living in Sydney

Kaye E. Brock, Liang Ke, Marilyn Tseng, Lindy Clemson, Fung K. Koo, Haeyoung Jang, Markus J. Seibel, Elias Mpofu, David R. Fraser, Rebecca S. Mason

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Known determinants of vitamin D status (measured in serum as 25(OH)D nmol/L) are exposure to sunlight and intake of vitamin D, either from foods or vitamin supplements. Recently, low vitamin D status in East Asian Australian immigrants has been reported. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate associations with vitamin D status in East Asian Australian immigrant women. In this cross-sectional study of women (n = 152 aged 18-92), 25(OH)D levels were measured from serum samples (radio-immuno assay). Demographics, sun exposure patterns, dietary intake and acculturation factors were obtained by questionnaire. In spring, 53% of the study population had serum 25(OH)D levels <50 nmol/L (deficiency); whereas in summer only 19% were deficient. Associations with vitamin D deficiency were younger age, higher education, more sun protection behavior, fewer minutes of sun exposure on weekends, low vitamin D and calcium intake through foods or supplements and less acculturation to Australian lifestyle. After multivariate adjustment, those who had no intake of vitamin D supplements (OR = 5.6, CI = 1.4-22), less sunlight exposure on weekends (OR = 2.7, CI = 1.0-7.3) and lower acculturation to Australian lifestyle (OR = 2.5, CI = 1.0-6.3) had increased risk of being deficient in vitamin D. Thus there is a need for vitamin D education in this "at-risk" population. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Vitamin D Workshop'.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)214-217
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Volume136
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 25(OH)D
  • Acculturation
  • Asian immigrant culture
  • Sun exposure
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Vitamin D dietary and supplement intake
  • Vitamin D status

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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