Relationship between vitamin D status and skin phototype in general adult population.
A link between bone mineral density and skin color has been reported recently, and pigmentation has been shown to affect cutaneous vitamin D production. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between phototype, global self-assessed sun exposure, geographical location and vitamin D serum levels in 1191 French adults. When the factors were analyzed separately, individuals with lower phototypes as well as those with lower sun exposure showed significantly lower levels of vitamin D than those with darker phototypes or those with higher sun exposure. However, when factors were analyzed as a whole, the vitamin D status was no longer linked with the phototype, but with sun exposure and geographical location. Since phototypes and global self-assessments of sun exposure were positively linked, our data suggest that lower vitamin D levels in fair-skinned individuals are due to their sun exposure behavior.
Malvy
D J
DJ
INSERM U330, University Bordeaux 2, France. Denis.Malvy@crl.u-bordeaux2.fr
Guinot
C
C
Preziosi
P
P
Galan
P
P
Chapuy
M C
MC
Maamer
M
M
Arnaud
S
S
Meunier
P J
PJ
Hercberg
S
S
Tschachler
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*
D014807:Vitamin D