Vitamin D status and its seasonal variability in healthy young adults in an Asian Indian urban population.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the vitamin D status and its seasonal variability in healthy young adults in Chandigarh, a city in northern India.


METHODS
The history was elicited and examination was performed pertaining to metabolic bone disease in 329 young adults (18 to 25 years of age) at the end of summer and 237 subjects from the same cohort at the end of winter. The calcium profile, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and intact parathyroid hormone were measured during both the seasons.


RESULTS
Among the young adults in this study cohort, 25(OH)D sufficiency (≥ 30 ng/mL) was found in 72.5% in summer and in 50.7% in winter. A significantly higher number of men were 25(OH)D sufficient in comparison with women in summer (P = .001). The mean (standard deviation) serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly higher at the end of summer-52.9 (33.7) ng/mL-in comparison with that at the end of winter-31.8 (21.1) ng/mL; P<.001. The intact parathyroid hormone levels were significantly lower in the 25(OH)D-sufficient group (P = .001) and began to increase at 25(OH)D levels below 25 ng/mL. The serum 25(OH)D levels correlated positively with the duration of exposure to sunlight during summer (r = 0.111; P = .05) and also the calcium intake during summer (r = 0.129; P = .03).


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D sufficiency may be a reality with a combination of young skin, optimal and effective exposure to sunlight, and adequate calcium intake.
Ramakrishnan
Santosh
S
Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
Bhansali
Anil
A
Bhadada
Sanjay K
SK
Sharma
Ravikant
R
Walia
Rama
R
Ravikiran
Muthuswami
M
Shanmugasundar
Gopal
G
Ravikumar
Padala
P
D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D