High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy Irish adults.
BACKGROUND
Specific sub-groups of the population, such as older people, are at increased risk of poor vitamin D status. There is growing evidence, however, that vitamin D insufficiency may be a more widespread problem.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in a group of healthy Irish adults.


METHODS
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured by radioimmunoassay in 70 healthy Irish adults working in South Dublin.


RESULTS
Overall, half of the group (51%) had vitamin D insufficiency; this was more pronounced in wintertime, with prevalence rising to 58%. Winter was a significant negative predictor of serum 25-OH D levels. Sixteen percent of the participants reported taking a vitamin D-containing supplement (multivitamin), but this did not significantly influence the serum 25-OH D levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D insufficiency is not confined to "at-risk groups" and is likely to be prevalent in the general public in Ireland, especially in wintertime.
O'Sullivan
M
M
Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin 24, Ireland. maria.osullivan@tcd.ie
Nic Suibhne
T
T
Cox
G
G
Healy
M
M
O'Morain
C
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D