Summary Outcomes of the ODIN Project on Food Fortification for Vitamin D Deficiency Prevention

Abstract

Food-based solutions for optimal vitamin D nutrition and health through the life cycle (ODIN) was a cross-disciplinary, collaborative project, including 30 partners from 19 countries, which aimed to develop evidence-based solutions to prevent low vitamin D status (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) < 30 nmol/L) using a food-first approach. This paper provides a summary overview of some of the important ODIN outcomes and outlines some outstanding data requirements. In a study of almost 56,000 individuals, the first internationally standardised dataset of vitamin D status showed that 13% of EU residents overall, across a latitude gradient of 35° N to 69° N, had serum 25(OH)D < 30 nmol/L and 40% were < 50 nmol/L. The risk of low vitamin D status was several-fold higher among persons of ethnic minority. However, additional data from quality bio-banked sera would be required to improve these estimates. To address the question of dietary requirements for vitamin D among under-researched life-stage and population groups, four dose-response RCTs conducted in Northern Europe showed that vitamin D3 intakes of 8 and 13 μg/day prevented 25(OH)D decreasing below 30 nmol/L in white children and adolescents and 20 and 30 μg/day, respectively, achieved ≥50 nmol/L. Among white women during pregnancy, 30 μg/day is required to prevent umbilical cord 25(OH)D, representing new-born vitamin D status, below 25 nmol/L. While 8 μg/day protected white women in Finland at the 30 nmol/L cut-off, 18 μg/day was needed by women of East African descent to prevent 25(OH)D decreasing below 30 nmol/L during wintertime. Replicate RCTs are needed in young children <5 years and in school-age children, teens and pregnant women of ethnic minority. Using a series of food production studies, food-based RCTs and dietary modelling experiments, ODIN research shows that diverse fortification strategies could safely increase population intakes and prevent low vitamin D status. Building on this solid technological platform, implementation research is now warranted to scale up interventions in real-world settings to eradicate vitamin D deficiency.

Nutrihealth Study: Seasonal Variation in Vitamin D Status Among the Slovenian Adult and Elderly Population

“…Several studies conducted in Europe and around the world have shown substantial vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among different population groups [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Due to the many roles of vitamin D in human physiology, its low serum concentrations can pose a health risk [3,9].…”

Is a vitamin D fortification strategy needed?

“…In September 2019, a Forum was convened, with funding from the Rank Prize Funds, to explore the current situation and options for implementation strategies for increasing vitamin D intake across the distribution of food consumption patterns in the UK. The Forum discussed the potential of food fortification as a strategy, using learnings from the pan‐European ODIN study (Kiely & Cashman 2015; Kiely & Cashman 2018). Since the Forum took place, the coronavirus pandemic has placed a spotlight on the potential of good nutrition to promote immune function (https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/helpingyoueatwell/covid19immunity.html) and, in this context, the association between low vitamin D status and reduced immune response has been flagged.…”

“…Animal‐feeding trials with added vitamin D in the animals' diets ( e.g. to biofortify meat or eggs), food production studies and data from dose–response and dietary modelling studies indicate that dairy products, bread, meats and hens’ eggs could be viable fortification vehicles and that diverse fortification strategies could increase vitamin D intake across the distribution of population intakes and hence reduce the risk of deficiency (Kiely & Cashman 2018). Vitamin D 3 is considered more effective than vitamin D 2 for raising plasma 25(OH)D concentrations, which has implications for choice of fortificant (Tripkovic et al 2012; Tripkovic et al 2017).…”

Determinants of Vitamin D Supplementation among Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes

“…Moreover, VD was reported to have pleiotropic effects such as regulation of immunological system [8,9], effects on the cardiovascular system via the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system [10,11], and regulation of insulin secretion [12][13][14]. In some countries, food is fortified for VD [15]. For instance, in Poland margarine is fortified for VD.…”