title: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D: distribution and determinants in the Swiss population.
abstract: The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration was measured in a representative sample of the general adult population in Switzerland (n = 3276). The median concentration was 46 nmol/L and no significant difference was found between men and women. Between the ages of 25 and 74 y, 25(OH)D was not significantly correlated with age (r2 = 0.01). Six percent of the population was vitamin D deficient [ie, 25(OH)D less than or equal to 20 nmol/L] and between 34% and 95% had a relatively low concentration of vitamin D (ie, less than 38 or less than 95 nmol/L, respectively). Among the determinants of low 25(OH)D were indicators of little sunshine exposure, such as the winter season [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 1.5-3.7 (95% confidence interval)] and less than 30 min of time spent outdoors daily by individuals greater than 65 y of age (OR 5.6, 1.5-21.2), as well as indicators of low nutritional intake of vitamin D, such as the absence of regular intake of butter or margarine (OR 2.0, 1.3-3.1) and the consumption of few dairy products (OR 1.7, 1.2-2.4).
authors.affiliation: Institut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burnand
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sloutskis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gianoli
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cornuz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rickenbach
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paccaud
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burckhardt
mesh_terms: D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2