Vitamin D insufficiency in southern Arizona.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency has been observed among populations in the northern United States. However, data on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in areas of high sun exposure, such as Arizona, are limited.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyze serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in residents of southern Arizona and to evaluate predictors of 25(OH)D in this population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analyses of serum from participants in a colorectal adenoma prevention study were conducted to determine rates of vitamin D deficiency. Participants were categorized into 4 groups on the basis of serum 25(OH)D concentrations: <10.0 ng/mL, > or =10.0 ng/mL and <20.0 ng/mL, > or =20.0 ng/mL and <30.0 ng/mL, and > or =30.0 ng/mL.


RESULTS
The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration for the total population was 26.1 +/- 9.1 ng/mL. Of 637 participants, 22.3% had 25(OH)D concentrations >30 ng/mL, 25.4% had concentrations <20 ng/mL, and 2.0% had concentrations <10 ng/mL. Blacks (55.5%) and Hispanics (37.6%) were more likely to have deficient 25(OH)D concentrations (<20 ng/mL) than were non-Hispanic whites (22.7%). Sun exposure had a greater effect on 25(OH)D in whites than in blacks and Hispanics, whereas BMI appeared to be more important in the latter groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite residing in a region with high chronic sun exposure, adults in southern Arizona are commonly deficient in vitamin D deficiency, particularly blacks and Hispanics.
Jacobs
Elizabeth T
ET
Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. jacobse@u.arizona.edu
Alberts
David S
DS
Foote
Janet A
JA
Green
Sylvan B
SB
Hollis
Bruce W
BW
Yu
Zerui
Z
Martínez
María Elena
ME
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044465:White People
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D