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Vitamin D deficiency in Tasmania: A whole of life perspective

Objective:  This study aims to describe the life-time picture of vitamin D deficiency, as measured by serum 25(OH)D concentration, in Tasmania (latitude 43°S).

Methods:  Five cross-sectional studies were used: A sample of primary school children (n=201, aged 7-8 years), two samples of adolescents (sample 1: n=374, aged 15-18 years; sample 2: n=136, aged 16-19 years), a sample of young to middle aged adults (n=262, aged 19-59 years), and a sample of older adults (n=1092, aged 50-80 years).

Results:  In winter/spring, approximately two third of the adolescents and adults (young, middle-aged and older) had 25(OH)D levels ≤50 nmol/L and around 10% had 25(OH)D levels ≤25 nmol/L. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was much lower for primary school children (11.5% <50 nmol/L, 0.5% ≤25 nmol/L). In summer/autumn, approximately one third of the adolescents and adults had 25(OH)D levels ≤50 nmol/L, and very few had 25(OH)D levels ≤25 nmol/L. For the adolescents and adults, even among those who reported the highest category of sun exposure, approximately 45% had 25(OH)D levels ≤50 nmol/L in winter/spring.

Conclusions:  Vitamin D deficiency was uncommon among our sample of primary school children, but increased substantially during the teenage years, and seemed to remain high throughout the rest of life suggesting mild vitamin D deficiency is endemic in Tasmania apart from in the very young.

History

Publication title

Internal Medicine Journal

Volume

42

Issue

10

Pagination

1137-1144

ISSN

1444-0903

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Asia

Place of publication

54 University St, P O Box 378, Carlton, Australia, Victoria, 3053

Rights statement

Copyright 2012 Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania. Internal Medicine Journal. Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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    University Of Tasmania

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