Page 149 - Petelin, Ana. 2020. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije / Health of the Working-Age Population. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
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amin D deficiency and seasonal variation among Slovenian prehrana in hidracija | nutrition and hydration
adult population
Maša Hribar, Hristo Hristov, Matej Gregorič, Urška Blaznik, Katja Zaletel,
Adrijana Oblak, Joško Osredkar, Anita Kušar, Katja Žmitek, Irena Rogelj,
Igor Pravst
Nutrition Institute, Tržaška cesta 40, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which main sources are skin
exposure to ultraviolet B light (UVB) radiation, and dietary intake with food or
food supplements. In many European countries, sun exposure and intensity of
UVB irradiation during most of the wintertime does not lead to any production
of vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D is involved in calcium and phosphorus ho-
meostasis, and therefore plays a crucial role in bone health. With all that said,
maintenance of optimal status is of great importance for individual and public
health across all age groups. In Europe, many studies revealed a substantial vi-
tamin D deficiency prevalence, therefore it is of utmost importance to eluci-
date prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Slovenia.
Methods: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Slovenia was investigated within
national NUTRIHELATH study, which was designed as an extension arm to na-
tional food survey SI.Menu (2017/18). SI.Menu was conducted on national pop-
ulation representative sample, of which a subsample was invited to give blood
sample for analysis of 25(OH)D concentration, a marker for vitamin D con-
centration. Within adult (age: 18-64 years) population 125 people participated
with blood sample, of which 41.6 % was male and 58.4 % female. Vitamin D sta-
tus was divided into categories according to 25(OH)D concentrations such as:
deficient <30 nmol/L; insufficient < 50 nmol/L and optimal status >75 nmol/L.
Since vitamin D concentration is strongly influenced by season, sample was di-
vided into extended winter (November-April; N=73), and extended summer
(May-October; N=52) period.
Results: When analysing year around data, vitamin D deficiency (<30 nmo-
l/L) was detected in almost quarter (24.9 %) of participants, 58.2 % were in-
sufficient (<50 nmol/L), while 83.3 % had 25(OH)D concentrations below 75
nmol/L. Looking only on data obtained in extended wintertime, average se-
rum concentration of 25(OH)D was 36,7 nmol/L (95% CI: 32.5-40.9), 40.8 %
of adults were, 81.6 % were insufficient, and 98.0 % had concentrations below
<75 nmol/L. Thus, only 2.0 % of participants had sufficient vitamin D levels
during wintertime. When looking only on data obtained in extended summer-
time, 2.6 % were deficient, 25.3 % were insufficient and 62.6 % of participants
had concentrations below optimal.
Discussion and conclusions: Results of the study showed great seasonal vari-
ation in vitamin D concentrations in adult Slovenian population, with the de-
ficiency especially pronounced in wintertime. The prevalence of deficiency in
Slovenia was among highest in Europe and poses a possible public health risk,
which should be addressed with appropriate recommendations and/or policy
interventions. This can be done either on national, or better on the Europe-
an Union level.
Key words: vitamin D, adult, deficiency, seasonal variation
147
adult population
Maša Hribar, Hristo Hristov, Matej Gregorič, Urška Blaznik, Katja Zaletel,
Adrijana Oblak, Joško Osredkar, Anita Kušar, Katja Žmitek, Irena Rogelj,
Igor Pravst
Nutrition Institute, Tržaška cesta 40, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which main sources are skin
exposure to ultraviolet B light (UVB) radiation, and dietary intake with food or
food supplements. In many European countries, sun exposure and intensity of
UVB irradiation during most of the wintertime does not lead to any production
of vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D is involved in calcium and phosphorus ho-
meostasis, and therefore plays a crucial role in bone health. With all that said,
maintenance of optimal status is of great importance for individual and public
health across all age groups. In Europe, many studies revealed a substantial vi-
tamin D deficiency prevalence, therefore it is of utmost importance to eluci-
date prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Slovenia.
Methods: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Slovenia was investigated within
national NUTRIHELATH study, which was designed as an extension arm to na-
tional food survey SI.Menu (2017/18). SI.Menu was conducted on national pop-
ulation representative sample, of which a subsample was invited to give blood
sample for analysis of 25(OH)D concentration, a marker for vitamin D con-
centration. Within adult (age: 18-64 years) population 125 people participated
with blood sample, of which 41.6 % was male and 58.4 % female. Vitamin D sta-
tus was divided into categories according to 25(OH)D concentrations such as:
deficient <30 nmol/L; insufficient < 50 nmol/L and optimal status >75 nmol/L.
Since vitamin D concentration is strongly influenced by season, sample was di-
vided into extended winter (November-April; N=73), and extended summer
(May-October; N=52) period.
Results: When analysing year around data, vitamin D deficiency (<30 nmo-
l/L) was detected in almost quarter (24.9 %) of participants, 58.2 % were in-
sufficient (<50 nmol/L), while 83.3 % had 25(OH)D concentrations below 75
nmol/L. Looking only on data obtained in extended wintertime, average se-
rum concentration of 25(OH)D was 36,7 nmol/L (95% CI: 32.5-40.9), 40.8 %
of adults were, 81.6 % were insufficient, and 98.0 % had concentrations below
<75 nmol/L. Thus, only 2.0 % of participants had sufficient vitamin D levels
during wintertime. When looking only on data obtained in extended summer-
time, 2.6 % were deficient, 25.3 % were insufficient and 62.6 % of participants
had concentrations below optimal.
Discussion and conclusions: Results of the study showed great seasonal vari-
ation in vitamin D concentrations in adult Slovenian population, with the de-
ficiency especially pronounced in wintertime. The prevalence of deficiency in
Slovenia was among highest in Europe and poses a possible public health risk,
which should be addressed with appropriate recommendations and/or policy
interventions. This can be done either on national, or better on the Europe-
an Union level.
Key words: vitamin D, adult, deficiency, seasonal variation
147
