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. 2020 Oct 12:9:e47.
doi: 10.1017/jns.2020.40. eCollection 2020.

Vitamin D status in children and adults in Sweden: dietary intake and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in children aged 10-12 years and adults aged 18-80 years

Cecilia Nälsén  1 , Wulf Becker  1   2 , Monika Pearson  1 , Peter Ridefelt  3 , Anna Karin Lindroos  1   4 , Natalia Kotova  1 , Irene Mattisson  1
Affiliations

Vitamin D status in children and adults in Sweden: dietary intake and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in children aged 10-12 years and adults aged 18-80 years

Cecilia Nälsén et al. J Nutr Sci. .

Abstract

The study aimed to estimate vitamin D intake and plasma/serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations, investigate determinants of 25(OH)D concentrations and compare two 25(OH)D assays. We conducted two nationwide cross-sectional studies in Sweden with 206 school children aged 10-12 years and 1797 adults aged 18-80 years (n 268 provided blood samples). A web-based dietary record was used to assess dietary intake. Plasma/serum 25(OH)D was analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and immunoassay in adults and LC-MS/MS in children. Most participants reported a vitamin D intake below the average requirement (AR), 16 % of children and 33 % of adults met the AR (7⋅5 μg). In adults, plasma 25(OH)D below 30 and 50 nmol/l were found in 1 and 18 % of participants during the summer period and in 9 and 40 % of participants during the winter period, respectively. In children, serum 25(OH)D below 30 and 50 nmol/l were found in 5 and 42 % of participants (samples collected March-May), respectively. Higher 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with the summer season, vacations in sunny locations (adults), and dietary intake of vitamin D and use of vitamin D supplements, while lower concentrations were associated with a higher BMI and an origin outside of Europe. Concentrations of 25(OH)D were lower using the immunoassay than with the LC-MS assay, but associations with dietary factors and seasonal variability were similar. In conclusion, vitamin D intake was lower than the AR, especially in children. The 25(OH)D concentrations were low in many participants, but few participants had a concentration below 30 nmol/l.

Keywords: 25(OH)D assays; 25(OH)D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D; 25-hydroxyvitamin D; AR, average requirement; Adults; Children; DEQAS, Vitamin D External Quality Assessment Scheme; LI, lower intake level; NNR 2012, Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2012; OEMC, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Centers; RI, recommended intake; UL, upper intake level; UVB, ultraviolet B; Vitamin D status.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Box plot of the distribution of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, as determined using an immunoassay and an LC-MS assay in adults aged 18–80 years (n 268). The box plot is presented with whiskers with the maximum 1⋅5 interquartile range.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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