Risk factors for low vitamin D status in Korean adolescents: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008–2009. Issue 4 (6th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Young Ah; Kim, Hwa Young; Hong, Hyunsook; Kim, Ji Young; Kwon, Hyun Jin; Shin, Choong Ho; Yang, Sei Won
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 17:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 764
• Page End: 771
• Publication Date: 2013-03-06
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980013000438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="abs1" sec-type="general"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and predictors for low vitamin D status in Korean adolescents living between latitudes 33° and 39°N.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs2" sec-type="general"> <title>Design</title> <p>A descriptive cross-sectional study.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs3" sec-type="general"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008–2009.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs4" sec-type="subjects"> <title>Subjects</title> <p>A total of 1510 healthy adolescents aged 12–18 years (806 male, mean age 14·7 years) participated. Possible predictors for low vitamin D status (log-transformed 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations) were evaluated.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs5" sec-type="results"> <title>Results</title> <p>The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D<20 ng/ml) was 89·1 % in spring, 53·7 % in summer, 63·9 % in autumn and 90·5 % in winter. Winter season, older age, higher education level reached, being female, being obese, a lack of vitamin D supplementation, lower milk consumption (0–<200 ml/d) and a lack of physical activity were unadjusted predictors (all <italic>P</italic> < 0·05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that winter season (<italic>P</italic> < 0·001), higher education level (<italic>P</italic> < 0·001) and a lack of vitamin D supplementation (<italic>P</italic> = 0·012) were independent predictors for low vitamin D status. The modifying effect of season on the association between vitamin D supplement use and vitamin D status was significant (<italic>P</italic> < 0·001).</p> </sec> <sec id="abs6" sec-type="conclusion"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent in Korean adolescents, especially those in higher school grades. Vitamin D supplementation may contribute to maintain a better vitamin D status with lower seasonal variation. Further studies are required to determine optimal vitamin D intakes to maintain sufficient vitamin D status for Korean adolescents.</p> </sec> </abstract>