Vitamin D Status of People 3 to 79 Years of Age from the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2012-2019

Hope A Weiler; Kurtis Sarafin; Chantal Martineau; Janice L Daoust; Krista Esslinger; Linda S Greene-Finestone; Lidia Loukine; Veronique Dorais

doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.026

Vitamin D Status of People 3 to 79 Years of Age from the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2012-2019

J Nutr. 2023 Apr;153(4):1150-1161. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.026. Epub 2023 Feb 26.

Authors

Hope A Weiler¹, Kurtis Sarafin², Chantal Martineau³, Janice L Daoust³, Krista Esslinger⁴, Linda S Greene-Finestone⁵, Lidia Loukine⁶, Veronique Dorais⁶

Affiliations

¹ Nutrition Research Division, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: hope.weiler@hc-sc.gc.ca.
² Nutrition Research Division, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
³ Nutrition Regulations and Standards Division, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Applied Research Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
⁶ Bureau of Food Surveillance and Science Integration, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 36848989
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.026

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D is recognized in bone health and the prevention of rickets and osteomalacia.

Objective: This study aimed to assess vitamin D status of people in Canada and to identify factors associated with vitamin D inadequacy and deficiency.

Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (cycles 3-6, n = 21,770, 3-79 y) were evaluated for geometric means and proportions <40 (inadequate) and <30 (risk of deficiency) nmol/L. Factors associated with inadequacy or deficiency were tested using logistic regression.

Results: Mean serum 25(OH)D was 57.9 (95% CI: 55.4, 60.5) nmol/L; the prevalence of inadequacy was 19.0% (95% CI: 15.7, 22.3) and risk of deficiency was 8.4% (95% CI: 6.5, 10.3). Prominent dietary factors associated with inadequacy in adults included: not consuming fish compared with ≥1/wk (adjusted OR_adj: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.21, 2.11), none compared with ≥1/d for cow's milk (OR_adj: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.94) or margarine (OR_adj: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.88); or nonuser compared with user of vitamin D supplements (OR_adj: 5.21; 95% CI: 3.88, 7.01). Notable demographic factors included: younger adults compared with 71 to 79 y (19-30 y OR_adj: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.66, 3.29); BMI ≥30 compared with <25 kg/m² (OR_adj: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.79, 2.95); lower household income quartile 1 compared with 4 (OR_adj: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.15); and self-reported Black (OR_adj: 8.06; 95% CI: 4.71, 13.81), East/Southeast Asian (OR_adj: 3.83; 95% CI: 2.14, 6.85), Middle Eastern (OR_adj: 4.57; 95% CI: 3.02, 6.92), and South Asian (OR_adj: 4.63; 95% CI: 2.62, 8.19) race compared with White. Similar factors were observed in children and for deficiency.

Conclusions: Most people in Canada have adequate vitamin D status; nonetheless, racialized groups have an elevated prevalence of inadequacy. Further research is required to evaluate if current strategies to improve vitamin D status, including increasing vitamin D in fortified foods and supplements, and dietary guidance to include a source of vitamin D every day help to reduce health inequality in Canada.

Keywords: Canada; disaggregate data analyses; health inequality; population surveillance; vitamin D status.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Canada / epidemiology
Cattle
Dietary Supplements
Female
Health Status Disparities*
Humans
Prevalence
Vitamin D
Vitamin D Deficiency*
Vitamins

Substances

Vitamin D
Vitamins