Vitamin D fortification as public health policy: significant improvement in vitamin D status in young Finnish men.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D insufficiency is common in northern countries during wintertime. In Finland, after the recommendation by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, vitamin D has been added to liquid milk products and margarines from February 2003.


OBJECTIVE
We determined the effects of national policy on vitamin D fortification on vitamin D status among young Finnish men.


METHODS
A comparison before and after intervention with study population of 196 young Finnish men (18-28 years) was carried out. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) concentrations were determined with the OCTEIA enzymeimmunoassay by IDS (Immunodiagnostic Systems Limited, Bolden, UK) in January 2003 (n = 96) and in January 2004 (n = 100), nearly 1 year after national vitamin D fortification had started.


RESULTS
The mean serum 25-OHD3 concentrations during the wintertime increased by 50% after implementation of the vitamin D fortification of dairy products. Correspondingly, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25-OHD3 < 40 nmol/l) was decreased by 50% from 78% in January 2003 to 35% in January 2004.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that national vitamin D fortification substantially improved the vitamin D status of young Finnish men. Still, a third remained vitamin D insufficient.
Department of Cell Biology, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. ilkka.laaksi@uta.fi
I T
IT
Laaksi
J-P S
JP
Ruohola
T J
TJ
Ylikomi
A
A
Auvinen
R I
RI
Haataja
H K
HK
Pihlajamäki
P J
PJ
Tuohimaa
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003611:Dairy Products; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D