Vitamin D status and associations with diet, objectively measured physical activity patterns and background characteristics among adolescents in a representative national cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Objective: To report on vitamin D status, measured as plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (25(OH)D), the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, and to explore associations between Vitamin D status and background characteristics. Design: Data was collected in a national dietary survey, Riksmaten adolescents 2016-17. The participants completed dietary assessment and questionnaires on the web and wore accelerometers. [25(OH)D] was measured with a mass spectrometry method. Setting: Representative survey conducted in schools throughout Sweden. Participants: Participants attended school years 5 (Y5, mean age 12. 5 years), 8 (Y8, mean age 14. 5 years) and 11(Y11, mean age 18 years), and included 1100 participants. Results: Overall, there was no difference in plasma 25(OH)D between girls and boys. Vitamin D insufficiency differed between the three school years. The prevalence of insufficiency in Y5 was 32 (boys) and 48 (girls) percent, while in Y11 62 (boys) and 43 (girls) percent. The prevalence of deficiency in Y11 was 16 and 15 percent in boys and girls, respectively. Being born outside of Sweden was associated with a 10-fold increased risk of being vitamin D deficient. Deficiency was also associated with longer time spent in sedentary intensity, a lower consumption of fortified dairy products, and fats and oils. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was most common in the oldest age group and being born outside of Sweden increased the risk of being deficient. The present study will form a baseline for future follow-up studies of the implementation of a new mandatory vitamin D fortification policy in 2018.

Sources of vitamin D and determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Finnish adolescents

“…However, the mean serum 25(OH)D was lower and the proportion of adolescents with serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l was higher than among Finnish adults in 2011 [ 15 ] and in 2017 [ 17 ] and among 10-year-old Finnish children in 2013 [ 19 ] after the increase in the recommended vitamin D intake, supplementation, and fortification in Finland in 2010–2014 [ 7 , 12 , 13 ]. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous data on serum 25(OH)D concentrations in Finnish adolescents after the updated national recommendations on vitamin D. The present data support the evidence that low vitamin D intake and vitamin D insufficiency remain common problems among children and adolescents in Nordic countries and elsewhere in Europe [ 3 , 33 , 34 ].…”

“…The proportion of adolescents with serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l in our Finnish study sample of 30% was lower than in other European study populations of school-age children and adolescents using standardized 25(OH)D concentrations [ 20 ], lower than in a large Swedish study population in adolescents [ 33 ] and almost same as in a Canadian study population of children and adolescents [ 21 ]. Only 0.8% of the adolescents in our study had serum 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/l and 1.9% had serum 25(OH)D < 30 nmol/l.…”

“…Fortified milk products have been an important source of vitamin D and a major correlate of serum 25(OH)D also in other countries with national vitamin D fortification policy, such as in Canada and the USA, whereas their role has been smaller in countries where fortification is less systematic, such as in Sweden and Norway [ 42 ]. A recent national survey in Swedish adolescents found that adolescents with serum 25(OH)D < 30 nmol/l consumed less fortified products, even though the study was performed before implementing higher fortification policy in Sweden in 2018 [ 33 ]. We found that low serum 25(OH)D was more common and also dietary intake of vitamin D was lower in adolescents who did not use supplements than in those who used them.…”

“…Higher levels of PA have been associated with higher serum 25(OH)D in children and adolescents [ 38 , 44 , 45 ]. Higher screen time or sedentary time has also been associated with a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency in children [ 37 , 48 ] an in adolescents [ 33 ]. We found that higher levels of PA and lower levels of sedentary time were associated with higher serum 25(OH)D, but these associations were largely explained by other determinants.…”

Mass Sportrometry: An annual look back at applications of mass spectrometry in sport and exercise science

“…In 2022, targeted analyses were the most commonly applied approach for MS-based research in SES, with 52 human participant studies published. These experiments were predominantly performed in plasma 6,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] or serum, [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] with other biosamples mediums utilized such as urine, [51][52][53][54][55] fecal matter, 56,57 breath gases, [58][59][60][61][62][63] red blood cells, …”