title: Vitamin D levels in an Australian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Levels of vitamin D in the population have come under increasing scrutiny, however there are only a few studies in Australia which measure levels in the general population. The aim of this study was to measure the levels of vitamin D within a large population cohort and examine the association with seasons and selected demographic and health risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal cohort study of 2413 participants in the northwest suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia conducted between 2008 and 2010 was used to examine serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) in relation to demographic characteristics (age, sex, income, education and country of birth), seasons, the use of vitamin D supplements and selected health risk factors (physical activity, body mass index and smoking). Both unadjusted and adjusted mean levels of serum 25(OH)D were examined, as were the factors associated with the unadjusted and adjusted prevalence of serum 25(OH)D levels below 50 and 75 nmol/L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the mean level of serum 25(OH)D was 69.2 nmol/L with 22.7% of the population having a serum 25(OH)D level below 50 nmol/L, the level which is generally recognised as vitamin D deficiency. There were significantly higher levels of 25(OH)D among males compared to females (t = 4.65, p < 0.001). Higher levels of 25(OH)D were also measured in summer and autumn compared with winter and spring. Generally, mean levels of 25(OH)D were lower in those classified as obese. Smokers and those undertaking no or less than 150 minutes/week of physical activity also had lower levels of serum vitamin D. Obesity (as classified by body mass index), season and undertaking an insufficient level of physical activity to obtain a health benefit were significantly associated with the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in South Australia, affecting almost one quarter of the population and levels are related to activity, obesity and season even when adjusted for confounding factors. Improved methods of addressing vitamin D levels in population are required.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Level 3, 122 Frome St, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. tiffany.gill@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tiffany K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: E Michael
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Shanahan
authors.forename: Anne W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Appleton
authors.forename: Janet F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Zumin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dal Grande
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D