Low vitamin D status in a representative sample of youth from Québec, Canada.
BACKGROUND
Adequate vitamin D status is important for bone growth and mineralization and has been implicated in the regulation of autoimmunity, metabolic function, and cancer prevention. There are no reports of population-based studies on the vitamin D status of Canadian youth, a population with mandatory fortification of foods.


METHODS
We measured plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], the best indicator of vitamin D status, in a school-based cross-sectional sample of representative French Canadian youth (n = 1753) ages 9, 13, and 16 years living in Québec (latitude: 45 degrees-48 degrees N). Blood samples were collected from January to May 1999. We defined 25(OH)D deficiency as < or = 27.5 nmol/L, hypovitaminosis as < or = 37.5 nmol/L, and optimal as > 75.0 nmol/L.


RESULTS
More than 93% of youth in each age and sex group had suboptimal 25(OH)D concentrations. The prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency increased with age in both sexes (P < 0.0001). It was 2%, 3%, and 13% in 9-, 13-, and 16-year-old boys and 2%, 8%, and 10% in 9-, 13-, and 16-year-old girls. Girls with higher body mass index and girls from households with lower income had lower 25(OH)D concentrations. These effects were not observed in boys.


CONCLUSIONS
Inadequate vitamin D status is a potentially serious public health problem among children and adolescents in Québec. Youth living at high latitudes in countries with and without mandatory fortification of vitamin D are likely at heightened risk of 25(OH)D deficiency. These results call for renewed efforts to ensure adequate vitamin D intake among growing children and adolescents.
Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Sean
S
Mark
Katherine
K
Gray-Donald
Edgard E
EE
Delvin
Jennifer
J
O'Loughlin
Gilles
G
Paradis
Emile
E
Levy
Marie
M
Lambert
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control
D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D