Vitamin D status among older community dwelling men living in a sunny country and associations with lifestyle factors: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project, Sydney, Australia.
OBJECTIVE
Inadequate vitamin D status (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations <50 nmol/L) is an increasingly important public health issue in Australia. The aim of this analysis is to describe 25(OH)D levels in community dwelling men aged ≥70 years in Sydney, Australia, and to determine associations between serum 25(OH)D levels and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.


METHODS
A population-based, cross-sectional analysis of the baseline phase of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP), a large epidemiological study conducted in Sydney between January 2005 and May 2007.


METHODS
1659 non-institutionalised men aged ≥70 years.


METHODS
The cross-sectional analysis of the baseline phase of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP), a large epidemiological study conducted in Sydney between January 2005 and May 2007. Participants included 1659 community dwelling men who were interviewed and had clinical assessments. Main outcome measurements included serum 25(OH)D levels measured in blood samples using a radioimmunoassay kit (DiaSorin Inc., Stillwater, MN). Covariates included age, socioeconomic measures, season of blood sample, physical activity, sun exposure, vitamin D supplement use, cigarette smoking status, alcohol consumption, obesity and measures of health.


RESULTS
Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 43.0%; highest in winter (55.5%) and spring (53.9%), and was associated with season (winter and spring), low physical activity, avoidance of sun exposure, current smoking and obesity, even after adjustment for confounding factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Inadequate vitamin D status is highly prevalent among Australian older men and is associated with specific lifestyle factors. These findings emphasize the need to screen and monitor 25(OH)D levels in this population group, despite living in a sunny country such as Australia.
Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. vasant.hirani@sydney.edu.au
V
V
Hirani
R G
RG
Cumming
F M
FM
Blyth
V
V
Naganathan
D G
DG
Le Couteur
D J
DJ
Handelsman
L M
LM
Waite
M J
MJ
Seibel
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise; D006262:Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012621:Seasons; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D062789:Tobacco Products; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D