Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Brazilian adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
Cutaneous sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake are important determinants of vitamin D status. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the vitamin D status of a group of healthy adolescent students living in Brazil.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-six adolescents, 64 boys and 72 girls, aged 16-20 years old, living in a rural town in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, participated in this study.


RESULTS
The mean dietary vitamin D intake was 140 (120-156) IU/day [3.5 (3.0-3.9) microg/day]. Only 14.9% of the students met the daily adequate intake recommendation of vitamin D. Only 27.9% practice physical activity outdoors and 17.6% of the adolescents apply sunscreen daily. The mean 25(OH)D concentration was 73.0 (22.0) nmol/l [29.2 (8.8) ng/ml]. Vitamin D insufficiency was observed in 60% of adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that even in a sunny climate like Brazil the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in adolescents is high. Most likely this is due to low intakes of vitamin D in this group. Due to the limited extent of natural dietary sources of vitamin D, a policy of vitamin D food fortification should be considered in the future, and in the meantime greater use of vitamin D supplements in this population group should be encouraged to provide the increased amounts of this essential nutrient for optimal health.
Peters
Barbara Santarosa Emo
BS
Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
dos Santos
Luana Caroline
LC
Fisberg
Mauro
M
Wood
Richard James
RJ
Martini
Lígia Araújo
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D014807:Vitamin D