Vitamin D status in North Greenland is influenced by diet and season: indicators of dermal 25-hydroxy vitamin D production north of the Arctic Circle

Content Provider	Scilit
Author	Andersen, Stig Jakobsen, Anna Laurberg, Peter
Copyright Year	2012
Abstract	Vitamin D status, as measured by serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (s-25OHD), is important to human health. Dermal 25OHD production depends on UVB light that is influenced by latitude. We aimed to identify factors important to the production of s-25OHD in Arctic people and investigated subjects living in the town of Ilulissat and the settlement of Saqqaq in North Greenland (70°N) during the four seasons. Participants were enrolled with a balanced representation of non-Inuit and Inuit in Ilulissat and Inuit in Saqqaq, men and women, aged 30–39 and 40–49 years. Supplement use, hours spent outdoors and other lifestyle factors were determined by questionnaires. Scores of traditional Inuit food intake were computed from a FFQ at inclusion, and frequencies of intake were recorded at each visit. s-25OHD concentration was measured. There were sixty-four Inuit and thirty-three non-Inuit participants. Inuit food score < 40 % was found in 87, 64 and 48 % of non-Inuit, Inuit in Ilulissat and Inuit in Saqqaq participants, respectively (P= 0·009). Inuit diet associated positively with s-25OHD (P< 0·001). s-25OHD concentration was lower in non-Inuit than in Inuit participants (spring/summer/autumn/winter/average: 30·3 v. 36·8/43·2 v. 44·7/43·6 v. 48·6/32·8 v. 43·5/39·0 v. 44·6 nmol/l, P= 0·002/0·62/0·19/ < 0·001/0·011, respectively). s-25OHD levels differed with season (Inuit, P< 0·001; non-Inuit, P< 0·001) as did diet (Inuit, P< 0·001; non-Inuit, P< 0·001) and hours spent outdoors (Inuit, P< 0·001; non-Inuit, P= 0·012). s-25OHD level was influenced by diet (P< 0·001), season (P< 0·001), origin (P= 0·001), residence (P= 0·013) and sex (P= 0·026). We conclude that the season influenced vitamin D status in Arctic populations beyond diet, ethnicity and vitamin intake. This suggests dermal 25OHD production at a high latitude of 70°N.
Related Links	https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/BE2A4004B46F1913415B0E31F43F5CDD/S0007114512004709a.pdf/div-class-title-vitamin-d-status-in-north-greenland-is-influenced-by-diet-and-season-indicators-of-dermal-25-hydroxy-vitamin-d-production-north-of-the-arctic-circle-div.pdf
Ending Page	57
Page Count	8
Starting Page	50
ISSN	00071145
e-ISSN	14752662
DOI	10.1017/s0007114512004709
Journal	British Journal Of Nutrition
Issue Number	1
Volume Number	110
Language	English
Publisher	Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publisher Date	2013-07-14
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	British Journal Of Nutrition Nutrition and Dietetics Vitamin D Arctic North Greenland Dermal Production Inuit Eskimos
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Nutrition and Dietetics Medicine