Evaluation of fall Sun Exposure Score in predicting vitamin D status in young Canadian adults, and the influence of ancestry.
Query of sun-related habits or ancestry could help screen for risk of vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D<75nmol/L). We evaluated the association between Sun Exposure Score (calculated from recall of Time Exposed to Sun and Skin Exposed to Sun in the previous week), demographics and anthropometrics (including self-reported ancestry and skin melanin reflectometry), and serum 25(OH)D levels in healthy young Canadian adults in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA; 43°N) during fall. 310 adults (67% female) of European, East Asian, and South Asian ancestries were evaluated. The median (interquartile range) 25(OH)D level was 49.7nmol/L (36.7-70.3) and 80% of participants were vitamin D insufficient. The vast majority of those of East and South Asian ancestry were vitamin D insufficient (91% and 97%, respectively), as were 55% of those of European ancestry. Sun Exposure Score and 25(OH)D concentrations were not associated after accounting for confounders. A multivariable model showed ancestry, recent summer sun exposure, sex, melanin, vitamin D intake, age and year of study significantly predicted 25(OH)D concentration; ancestry was the strongest independent predictor (adjusted R(2)=43%). Although Sun Exposure Score was not a significant predictor of serum 25(OH)D levels, inquiry of ancestry has potential use in screening for vitamin D insufficiency.
Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Lauren
L
Sham
Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
E Ann
EA
Yeh
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Sandra
S
Magalhaes
Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Esteban J
EJ
Parra
Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Agnes
A
Gozdzik
Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Brenda
B
Banwell
Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: heather.hanwell@sickkids.ca.
Heather E
HE
Hanwell
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D002170:Canada; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D