title: Vitamin D insufficiency common in newborns, children and pregnant women living in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with poor bone health, colorectal cancer, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Two national health-related societies in Canada have made recommendations for vitamin D supplementation, yet little research has been reported on the vitamin D status of Canadians. Lifestyle changes, such as sunscreen use, spending less time outdoors and insufficient intake of vitamin D-containing foods as well as northern latitude, may be affecting human vitamin D status. A cross-sectional analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)D] was conducted in pregnant women, newborns (umbilical cord blood) and children. Samples were analysed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Published ranges for 25-(OH)D were used to determine vitamin D status. The prevalence of 25-(OH)D deficiency for the three groups studied revealed most concentrations in the 25-(OH)D deficiency or insufficiency ranges. There were significant differences in all groups studied between seasons, with the exception of maternal blood and female cord blood samples. 25-(OH)D insufficiency was common in all groups for winter and summer, more so in winter. 25-(OH)D insufficiency was common in the three groups studied. The Newfoundland and Labrador population may be at increased risk for vitamin D insufficiency because of factors such as northern latitude and lifestyle issues. Further research on the vitamin D status of this population is important, considering the potential adverse health-related outcomes and the recommendations on supplementation being made.
authors.affiliation: Memorial University, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada. lnewhook@mun.ca
authors.forename: Leigh A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Newhook
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sloka
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Randell
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: Laurie K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Twells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002980:Climate; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D012621:Seasons; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol