Pigmentation and vitamin D metabolism in Caucasians: low vitamin D serum levels in fair skin types in the UK.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D may play a protective role in many diseases. Public health messages are advocating sun avoidance to reduce skin cancer risk but the potential deleterious effects of these recommendations for vitamin D metabolism have been poorly investigated.


RESULTS
We investigated the association between 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D), skin type and ultraviolet exposure in 1414 Caucasian females in the UK. Mean age of the cohort was 47 years (18-79) and mean 25(OH)D levels were 77 nmol/L (6-289). 25(OH)D levels were strongly associated with season of sampling with higher levels in the spring and summer months (p<0.0001). Light skin types (skin type 1 and 2) have lower levels of 25(OH)D (mean 71 nmol/L) compared to darker skin types (skin type 3 and 4) (mean 82 nmol/L) after adjusting for multiple confounders (p<0.0001). The trend for increasing risk of low vitamin D with fairer skin types was highly significant despite adjustment for all confounders (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to previous studies across different ethnic backgrounds, this study within Caucasian UK females shows that fair skin types have lower levels of 25(OH)D compared to darker skin types with potential detrimental health effects. Public health campaigns advocating sun avoidance in fair skinned individuals may need to be revised in view of their risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Glass
Daniel
D
Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, Kings College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, London, UK.
Lens
Marko
M
Swaminathan
Ramasamyiyer
R
Spector
Tim D
TD
Bataille
Veronique
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013472:Sunlight; D006113:United Kingdom; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D014807:Vitamin D