Vitamin D status in healthy free-living elderly men and women living in Quebec, Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To assess vitamin D status in relation to age, sex, season, adiposity, physical activity level, and supplement use in healthy elderly Canadians living in Québec.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Data for 405 healthy free-living elderly Quebécers aged between 68 and 82 years with no major health problems were examined.


METHODS
Men and women in age groups of 68-72, 73-77, and 78-82 years, in 2 seasons, participating in the NuAge cohort.


METHODS
serum 25(OH)D assessed by radioimmunoassay (RIA), weight, height, smoking status, disease status, education, perception of income, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire, and vitamin D supplement consumption.


RESULTS
The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D <37.5 nmol/L) was 12.6% and 5.7% for men in winter and summer, and 8.7% and 1.9% for women, respectively. Over 50% of the participants had 25(OH)D concentrations <75 nmol/L. Correlates of vitamin D status by multiple regression analysis indicated that the vitamin D level in summer was 13.8 nmol/L higher for participants measured in winter and 17.2 nmol/L higher for those using supplements. Age, sex, body mass index, and physical activity were not associated with 25(OH)D concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is low in healthy elderly men and women, especially in summer, but over 50% of the participants had suboptimal vitamin D concentrations. Vitamin D supplement consumption increased 25(OH)D concentrations substantially, particularly in the winter months, and should be encouraged.
Baraké
Roula
R
School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Weiler
Hope
H
Payette
Hélène
H
Gray-Donald
Katherine
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D