Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with nutrition, travelling and clothing habits in an immigrant population in Northern Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
To study prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency in immigrants from Africa and the Middle East living in Umeå, Sweden.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population based.


METHODS
Umeå, Sweden (63° N).


METHODS
Immigrants aged 25-65 years from nine countries in Africa or the Middle East (n=1306) were invited. A total of 111 men and 106 women (16.5%) completed the study. S-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 was measured with HPLC. Anthropometry, medical, socioeconomic and lifestyle data were registered.


RESULTS
Vitamin D status was insufficient or deficient in 73% of the participants. Specifically, 12% had vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D3<25 nmol/l), and only 3.7% had optimal vitamin D status (25(OH)D3 75-125 nmol/l). Mean 25(OH)D3 level was 41.0 nmol/l (± 16.6) with no difference between sexes. Levels of 25(OH)D3 were lower (P=0.030) and vitamin D deficiency was twice as common in immigrants from Africa compared with those from the Middle East. In the multiple regression analysis, vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with low fatty fish intake (OR 4.31, 95% CI 1.61-11.55), not travelling abroad (OR 3.76, 95% CI 1.18-11.96) and wearing long-sleeved clothes in summer (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.09-9.12).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of immigrants from Africa and the Middle East who live in northern Sweden have vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. Our results are consistent with sun exposure and a diet with high intake of fatty fish being most important in avoiding vitamin D deficiency.
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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L
Granlund
Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
A
A
Ramnemark
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
C
C
Andersson
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.|Department of Statistics, Umeå School of Business and Economics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
M
M
Lindkvist
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
E
E
Fhärm
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
M
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2475-7131
M
Norberg
D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003020:Clothing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East / Q000208:ethnology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D017747:Seafood; D012621:Seasons; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*
D014807:Vitamin D