title: Vitamin D insufficiency in Aboriginal Australians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the adequacy of vitamin D status in a South Australian Aboriginal population, and to examine the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels and biochemical variables of calcium and bone mineral homeostasis, as well as other factors which may influence vitamin D synthesis, storage and metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-visit, observational study of 58 adults from two Aboriginal community-controlled health services in Adelaide and Yalata, South Australia. Participants were recruited between May 2008 and December 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of 25-OHD, parathyroid hormone (PTH), fasting glucose and fasting C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTx).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum 25-OHD levels showed clear seasonal variation, being higher in summer (P < 0.001). The overall mean level was 56.8 nmol/L (SD, 22.1), which is below the recommended target level of 60 nmol/L. Serum 25-OHD levels correlated significantly with β-CTx (P = 0.03), but not with age, body mass index (BMI), PTH levels or levels of fasting glucose. A significant association was found between BMI and PTH levels (P = 0.001). A significant inverse association between serum 25-OHD levels and BMI, observed in other studies, was not found in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in this population of adult Aboriginal Australians, with low mean values found in all seasons other than summer.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of General Practice, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. simon.vanlint@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vanlint
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Newbury
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Crockett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D024042:Collagen Type I; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides; D015995:Prevalence; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood; D013021:South Australia; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D024042:Collagen Type I; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011347:Procollagen; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D