Abstract

RODRIGUEZ SANGRADOR, M.; BELTRAN DE MIGUEL, B.; CUADRADO VIVES, C.  and  MOREIRAS TUNY, O.. Influence of sun exposure and diet to the nutritional status of vitamin D in adolescent Spanish women: the five countries study (OPTIFORD Project). Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2010, vol.25, n.5, pp.755-762. ISSN 1699-5198.

Introduction: Vitamin D defficiency is a big public health concern, especially among women. For this reason, "The Five Countries Study" was set up whithin the OPTIFORD project. This study aims at knowing the vitamin D status in adolescent and older women in five European countries according to their different dietary and behavioral habits. Objectives: To analyze the relative contribution of sun exposure and the diet to the vitamin D status among 47 Spanish adolescents participating in "The Five Countries Study". Methods: Validated and standardized questionnaires (health, lifestyle, sun exposure, and frequency of food consumption), biochemical analysis (25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25-OHD) and parathormone), and assessment of sun exposure (UV dosimeter). Results: Serum levels of S-25-OHD were higher durign the summertime than in winter (61.55 ± 12.85 nmol/l and 45.81 ± 9.29 nmol/l, respectively). Fourtyfive percent of the sample had a worsening of their vitamin status in the winter, as compared with the summer (p < 0.0001). During the summer, vitamin D insufficiency (S-25-OHD ≤ 50 nmol/l) affected 17% of the population, going up to 63% in the winter. Sixtysix percent of the sample did not reach the IR of vitamin D (5 g/day), being the fish the main dietary source of vitamin D. Conclusions: Only 34% of the participants had an adequate vitamin D status. Both adequate sun exposure and vitamin D dietary intake are recommended in order to correct defficient and insufficient situations.

Keywords : Vitamin D; Sun exposure; Adolescent women; Diet; Spain.

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