Hypovitaminosis D prevalence and determinants among African American and white women of reproductive age: third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.
BACKGROUND
Recent reports of rickets among African American children drew attention to the vitamin D status of these infants and their mothers. African American women are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency than are white women, but few studies have examined determinants of hypovitaminosis D in this population.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the prevalence and determinants of hypovitaminosis D among African American and white women of reproductive age.


METHODS
We examined 1546 African American women and 1426 white women aged 15-49 y who were not pregnant and who participated in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994). Hypovitaminosis D was defined as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration < or =37.5 nmol/L. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the independent association of dietary, demographic, and behavioral determinants of hypovitaminosis D.


RESULTS
The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 42.4 +/- 3.1% ( +/- SE) among African Americans and 4.2 +/- 0.7% among whites. Among African Americans, hypovitaminosis D was independently associated with consumption of milk or breakfast cereal <3 times/wk, no use of vitamin D supplements, season, urban residence, low body mass index, and no use of oral contraceptives. Even among 243 African Americans who consumed the adequate intake of vitamin D from supplements (200 IU/d), 28.2 +/- 2.7% had hypovitaminosis D.


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among African American women warrants further examination of vitamin D recommendations for these women. The determinants of hypovitaminosis D among women should be considered when these women are advised on dietary intake and supplement use.
Nesby-O'Dell
Shanna
S
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta 30341-3717, USA.
Scanlon
Kelley S
KS
Cogswell
Mary E
ME
Gillespie
Cathleen
C
Hollis
Bruce W
BW
Looker
Anne C
AC
Allen
Chris
C
Doughertly
Cindy
C
Gunter
Elaine W
EW
Bowman
Barbara A
BA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D044383:Black People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012098:Reproduction; D012621:Seasons; D014505:Urban Population; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D014807:Vitamin D; D002112:Calcifediol