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Session: Vitamins and Minerals (Poster Theater Flash Session 13)

(PTFS13-06-24) Prevalence and Trends in Vitamin D Levels in the United States, 2011-2018

Monday, July 1, 2024
10:16 AM – 10:20 AM CT
Location:  W185A-C
ELPC

    Presenting Author(s)

  • AS

    Anita Subramanian, PhD

    Postdoctoral Fellow
    NIH/NIEHS
    Durham, North Carolina, United States

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • HB

    Hyacinth B. Burrowes

    NIH/NIEHS
    Durham, North Carolina, United States

  • JR

    Jelonia Rumph

    Meharry Medical College, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Women’s Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, United States

  • JW

    Jesse Wilkerson

    Social & Scientific Systems, a DLH Holdings company
    Durham, North Carolina, United States

  • AJ

    Anne Marie Z. Jukic, PhD

    National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
    Durham, North Carolina, United States

Objectives: Vitamin D is important for bone health, reproduction, and immune function. Our objectives were to use data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to analyze trends from 2011-2018 in vitamin D status in the U.S. population, and, for the most recent survey cycle (2017-2018), to describe vitamin D levels stratified by demographic factors and identify predictors of 25(OH)D.

Methods: For each of the NHANES 2-year survey cycles 2011-2018 we calculated weighted median and interquartile range (IQR) of total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and the proportion of the U.S. population in each of the categories (nmol/L): < 30, 30- < 50, 50- < 75, 75- < 125, and ≥ 125. We calculated the same 25(OH)D quantities in 2017-2018 stratified by age, gender, race/ethnicity, BMI, income, education, season, sunscreen use, and vitamin D supplement use. Multiple linear regression models identified variables predictive of 25(OH)D level.

Results: The 31,628 NHANES participants are weighted to represent the entire U.S. population. The U.S. median (IQR) 25(OH)D levels were relatively stable, ranging from 66.5 (51.3, 83.0) nmol/L in 2013-2014 to 68.7 (52.3, 87.8) nmol/L in 2017-2018. For NHANES 2017-2018, the prevalence of 25(OH)D levels < 30 nmol/L was higher in females, people aged 20-39, Non-Hispanic Blacks, higher BMI ( >30), those in households with an income $35,000-64,999, lower education, not using sunscreen, not taking vitamin D supplements, and those surveyed in the winter months. Higher 25(OH)D was found in individuals of older age, lower BMI, taking vitamin D supplements, and those surveyed in the summer months. Median 25(OH)D was lowest among Non-Hispanic Black females aged 20-39. Age, race, BMI, vitamin D supplement use, dietary intake, and survey season were predictive of 25(OH)D level and race/ethnicity modified the effects of these factors.

Conclusions: The median vitamin D levels in the U.S. were stable from 2011-2018. Certain demographic factors such as gender, age, race, BMI, and income influence vitamin D levels. Vitamin D was lowest among Non-Hispanic Black females of reproductive age, suggesting that this population may be more at risk for vitamin D deficiency-related reproductive health endpoints.

Funding Sources: Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences