title: Vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy in a correctional population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adequate nutrition among inmates at correctional facilities may prevent a variety of diseases and conditions. Vitamin D is a nutrient of particular interest to incarcerated populations; however, research in this area is sparse. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess vitamin D status among inmates in a prison in southern Arizona, a sun-replete region of the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D] among short-term (group 1; <6 wk; n = 29) and long-term (group 2; >1 y; n = 30) inmates at The Fourth Avenue Jail in Maricopa County (Phoenix) Arizona.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The long-term inmates in group 2 had statistically significantly lower levels of 25(OH)D (13.9 ± 6.3 ng/mL) compared with group 1 (25.9 ± 12.4; P < 0.0001). Defining vitamin D deficiency as circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL, 37.9% of inmates in group 1 and 90% of those in group 2 were deficient. After adjusting for body mass index and age, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for deficiency in group 2 was 18.7 (4.1-84.9) compared with group 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the presence of vitamin D deficiency at the Fourth Avenue Jail in Maricopa County, Arizona, particularly among inmates who have been housed at the facility for >1 y. Because marked vitamin D deficiency is associated with a myriad of adverse health outcomes, consideration should be given to providing dietary or supplemental vitamin D to inmates at correctional facilities.
authors.affiliation: Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona. Electronic address: Jacobse@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Maricopa Correctional Health Services, Phoenix, Arizona; Emeritus Professor of Surgery, Mayo College of Medicine, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mullany
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001130:Arizona; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011330:Prisons; D013472:Sunlight; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol
keywords: Arizona; Correctional facility; Deficiency; Jail; Vitamin D