title: Geographical differences in vitamin D status, with particular reference to European countries.
abstract: Vitamin D is produced endogenously when the skin is exposed to sunlight and can be obtained exogenously from a few natural food sources, from food fortification and from supplements. Generally, vitamin D intake is low < or = 2-3 microg/d in Europe. Casual exposure to sunlight is thought to provide most of the vitamin D requirement of the human population. However, skin synthesis of vitamin D may not compensate for the low nutritional intake in Europe, even in countries with high supplies from food fortification and supplements. For assessment of vitamin D nutritional status the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in serum is considered to be an accurate integrative measure reflecting an individual's dietary intake and cutaneous production. A substantial percentage of the elderly and adolescents in Europe have a low concentration of 25(OH)D; in the elderly this percentage ranges from approximately 10 in the Nordic countries to approximately 40 in France. Low vitamin D status seems to be aggravated by disease and immobility, and by a low frequency of supplement use.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, 30A Sydmarken, 2860 Søborg, Denmark. lov@fdir.dk
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ovesen
authors.forename: Rikke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Jette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D