Vitamin D deficiency and hyperparathyroidism in relation to ethnicity: a cross-sectional survey in healthy adults

• Published in: European journal of nutrition 2009-02, Vol.48 (1), p.31-37
• Main Authors: Moreno-Reyes, Rodrigo, Carpentier, Yvon A, Boelaert, Marleen, El Moumni, Khadija, Dufourny, Ghislaine, Bazelmans, Christine, Levêque, Alain, Gervy, Christine, Goldman, Serge
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Belgium - epidemiology; Belgium - ethnology; Biological and medical sciences; biomarkers; Bone Density; bone metabolism; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; chronic diseases; Collagen Type I - blood; Congo - ethnology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health Surveys; Humans; hyperparathyroidism; Hyperparathyroidism - epidemiology; Hyperparathyroidism - ethnology; immigrants; Male; Middle Aged; middle-aged adults; mineral metabolism; Morocco - ethnology; multivariate analysis; nationalities and ethnic groups; Nutrition; nutrition risk assessment; nutritional status; Original Contribution; osteocalcin; Osteocalcin - blood; parathyroid hormone; Parathyroid Hormone - blood; peptides; Peptides - blood; risk; risk groups; Seasons; Sex Factors; Turkey - ethnology; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; vitamin D; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin D Deficiency - ethnology; vitamin deficiencies
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-008-0756-1

Background The study of vitamin D status at population level gained relevance since vitamin D deficiency was recently suggested to trigger chronic disease. Aim of the study We aimed to describe vitamin D status, its association with bone and mineral metabolism and risk factors for deficiency in adults over 40 years in Belgium. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a stratified random sample of 401 subjects aged between 40 and 60 years living in Brussels, and drawn from 4 different ethnic backgrounds: autochthonous Belgian, Moroccan, Turkish and Congolese. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin, C-telopeptide and bone mineral density was measured. Results Three-hundred and six subjects (77%) showed 25OHD concentrations below 50 nmol/l,135 (34%) below 25 nmol/l and 18 (5%) below 12.5 nmol/l. The proportion of subjects with vitamin D deficiency was four times greater amongst those of Moroccan or Turkish descent compared with those of Congolese or Belgian descent. Moroccan subjects showed a significant higher PTH and bone marker concentrations compared to Belgian. Ethnicity, season and sex were independently associated with vitamin D deficiency in multivariate analysis. Conclusion The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is very high amongst the adult population of Brussels but immigrants are at greater risk. Given the established link between population health and adequate vitamin D status, a policy of vitamin D supplementation should be considered in these risk groups.