title: Vitamin D deficiency in minority populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Black and Hispanic individuals synthesize less vitamin D per unit of sun exposure than white individuals. The relationship between UV radiation and vitamin D insufficiency in minorities has not been well explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we obtained serum vitamin D levels for non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks aged ≥18 years from 2000-2006. We linked these data with the average monthly solar UV index by census tract and data on sun exposure, vitamin D supplementation, health and demographics. We used multivariable regression analyses to assess vitamin D deficiency (<15 ng/ml) and insufficiency (<20 ng/ml) in January (when the UV index was lowest) by race/ethnicity and geography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults (n 14,319) aged ≥18 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 1-point increase in the UV index was associated with a 0·51 ng/ml increase in vitamin D (95% CI 0·35, 0·67 ng/ml; P<0·001). Non-Hispanic Black race and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with a 7·47 and 3·41 ng/ml decrease in vitamin D, respectively (both P<0·001). In January, an estimated 65·4% of non-Hispanic Blacks were deficient in vitamin D, compared with 28·9% of Hispanics and 14·0% of non-Hispanic Whites. An estimated 84·2% of non-Hispanic Blacks were insufficient in vitamin D v. 56·3% of Hispanics and 34·8% of non-Hispanic Whites. More non-Hispanic Blacks were estimated to be deficient in vitamin D in January in the highest UV index quartile than were non-Hispanic Whites in the lowest UV index quartile (60·2% v. 25·7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wintertime vitamin D insufficiency is pervasive among minority populations, and not uncommon among non-Hispanic Whites.
authors.affiliation: 1Medicine Institute,Cleveland Clinic,9500 Euclid Avenue,G1-40F,Cleveland,OH 44195,USA.
authors.forename: Glen B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Taksler
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Economics and Kennedy School of Government,Harvard University,Cambridge,MA,USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cutler
authors.affiliation: 4Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology,Harvard School of Public Health,Boston,MA,USA.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giovannucci
authors.affiliation: 5Department of Health Care Policy,Harvard Medical School,Boston,MA,USA.
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Keating
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054525:Minority Health / Q000208:ethnology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D013472:Sunlight; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol
keywords: Disparities; Race; Survival; Vitamin D; Vitamins
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