An Integrated Predictive Model of Population Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D for Application in Strategy Development for Vitamin D Deficiency Prevention.
BACKGROUND
To enable food-based strategies for the prevention of vitamin D deficiency to be evidence-based, there is a need to develop integrated predictive models of population serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] that are responsive to both solar and dietary inputs of vitamin D.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this work were to develop and validate an integrated mathematical model with the use of data on UVB availability, exposure, and dietary intake to predict serum 25(OH)D concentrations in a nationally representative sample of adults, and then test the model's performance with the use of 3 hypothetical fortification scenarios as exemplars.


METHODS
Data on UVB availability and hours of sunlight in Ireland were used in a mathematical model to predict serum 25(OH)D in Irish adults aged 18-64 y. An equation from our dose-related vitamin D supplementation trial in adults was developed and integrated into the model, which allowed us to predict the impact of changes in dietary vitamin D on the contribution to annual serum 25(OH)D concentrations, accounting for seasonality of UVB availability. Recently published estimates of the impact of 3 vitamin D food fortification scenarios on vitamin D intake in a representative sample of Irish adults were used in the model as a test.


RESULTS
The UVB- and vitamin D intake-serum 25(OH)D components of the integrated model were both validated with the use of independent data. The model predicted that the percentage of vitamin D deficiency [serum 25(OH)D <30 nmol/L] in the adult population during an extended winter period was 18.1% (vs. 18.6% measured), which could be reduced in a stepwise manner with the incorporation of an increased number of vitamin D-fortified foods, down to 6.6% with the inclusion of enhanced fortified dairy-related products, fat spreads, fruit juice and drinks, and cereal products.


CONCLUSIONS
Mathematical models have the ability to inform how vitamin D food fortification in various constructs may affect population serum 25(OH)D concentrations and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D Research Group, School of Food and Nutritional Science, and Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; k.cashman@ucc.ie.
Kevin D
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8185-1039
KD
Cashman
School of Earth Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; and Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Physics Department, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
Andreas
A
Kazantzidis
School of Earth Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; and.
Ann R
AR
Webb
Vitamin D Research Group, School of Food and Nutritional Science, and.
Mairead
M
Kiely
D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D007700:Kinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012621:Seasons; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
D014807:Vitamin D; D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D002112:Calcifediol
UVB; deficiency; food fortification; mathematical modeling; vitamin D