Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in uninsured women.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D deficiency, an important risk factor for osteoporosis and other chronic medical conditions, is epidemic in the United States. Uninsured women may be at an even higher risk for vitamin D deficiency than others owing to low intake of dietary and supplemental vitamin D and limited sun exposure.


OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this vulnerable population.


METHODS
We enrolled 145 uninsured women at a County Free Medical Clinic in urban Michigan. Questionnaires were used to obtain information about demographics, medical history, vitamin supplementation, sunlight exposure, and dietary vitamin D intake.


RESULTS
The 96 women who were tested for vitamin D status ranged in age from 21 to 65 years (mean 48 +/- 11), and 67% were vitamin D deficient as indicated by a 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D)] level <50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL). Non-Caucasians were 3 times more likely than Caucasians to be vitamin D deficient (P = .049). Mean dietary vitamin D intake was low (125 +/- 109 IU/d) and only 24% of the participants used any supplemental vitamin D. Participants with total vitamin D intake <400 IU/day from diet and supplements were 10 times more likely to be vitamin D deficient than others (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in an uninsured, medically underserved female population. Uninsured women should be strongly encouraged to increase their vitamin D intake.
Kakarala
Radhika R
RR
Department of Internal Medicine, McLaren Regional Medical Center, Michigan State University, Flint, Michigan 48532-3685, USA. radhikak@mclaren.org
Chandana
Sreenivasa R
SR
Harris
Susan S
SS
Kocharla
Lakshmi P
LP
Dvorin
Elena
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D