title: Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease among African migrant and refugee adults in Melbourne: a pilot study.
abstract: Migration to industrialised countries poses a "double whammy" for type 2 diabetes among sub-Saharan African migrant and refugee adults. This population group has been found to be at an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, which may be further aggravated by inadequate vitamin D status. Thus, this study aimed to describe the demographics of vitamin D insufficiency, obesity, and risk factors for type 2 diabetes among sub-Saharan African migrants and refugees aged 20 years or older living in Melbourne, Australia (n=49). Data were obtained by a questionnaire, medical assessment, and fasting blood samples. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 27.3 nmol/L (95% CI: 22.2, 32.4 nmol/L); with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels <50 nmol/L occurring in 88% of participants. Participants displayed a cluster of risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: 62% were overweight or obese, 47% had insulin resistance (HOMA-IR >=2), 25% had low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels >=3.5 mmol/L, 24.5% had high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels <=1.03 mmol/L, 34.6% had borderline or high levels of total cholesterol (>=5.2 mmol/L), 18.2% had borderline or high levels of triglyceride (>=1.7 mmol/L), and 16% had hypertension (systolic blood pressure >=140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >=90 mmHg). These findings suggest that sub-Saharan African migrants and refugees may be at risk of type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis-related diseases such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Well-designed vitamin D interventions that incorporate lifestyle changes are urgently needed in this sub-population.
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. andre.renzaho@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Andre Mn
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Renzaho
authors.forename: Caryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nowson
authors.forename: Ambi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Desilva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids