Successful nutrition policy: improvement of vitamin D intake and status in Finnish adults over the last decade.
Due to vitamin D intake below recommendation (10 µg/day) and low (<50 nmol/l) serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D) concentration in Finnish population, the fortification of liquid dairy products with 0.5 µg vitamin D/100 g and fat spreads with 10 µg/100 g started in Finland in December 2002. In 2010, the fortification recommendation was doubled. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the vitamin D intake and status have improved among Finnish adults as a consequence of these nutrition policy actions. A further aim was to study the impact of vitamin supplement use to the total vitamin D intake.



A cross-sectional survey was conducted every 5 years. The National FINDIET Survey was conducted in Finland as part of the National FINRISK health monitoring study. Dietary data were collected by using a computer-assisted 48-h dietary recall. In 2002, dietary data comprised 2007, in 2007, 1575 and 2012, 1295 working aged (25-64 years) Finns.



The mean D-vitamin intake increased from 5 µg/day to 17 µg/day in men and from 3 µg/day to 18 µg/day in women from 2002 to 2012. The most important food sources of vitamin D were milk products, fat spreads and fish dishes. The share of milk products was 39% among younger men and 38% among younger women, and 29% among older men and 28% among older women. Fat spreads covered on average 28% of vitamin D intake, except for younger men for which it covered 23%. Fish dishes provided 28% of vitamin D intake for older men and women, and approximately 18% for younger ones. In January-April 2012, the average serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D) concentration for men was 63 nmol/l for men and for women 67 nmol/l for women.



The fortification of commonly used foods with vitamin D and vitamin D supplementation seems to be an efficient way to increase the vitamin D intake and the vitamin D status in the adult population.
Nutrition Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Susanna
S
Raulio
Genomics and Biomarkers Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Iris
I
Erlund
Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Satu
S
Männistö
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department for Promotion of Welfare and Health.
Sirpa
S
Sarlio-Lähteenkorva
Genomics and Biomarkers Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Jouko
J
Sundvall
Nutrition Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Heli
H
Tapanainen
Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Erkki
E
Vartiainen
Nutrition Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.|School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.|Center for Child Health Research, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.|The Science Center of Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere, Finland.
Suvi M
SM
Virtanen
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*
D014807:Vitamin D