Abstract
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations are low in Mongolia, averaging 22 ng/mL in summer and only 8 ng/mL in winter. Mongolians have high incidence and/or prevalence of several diseases linked to low 25(OH)D concentrations, including ischemic heart disease, malignant neoplasms, cirrhosis of the liver, ischemic stroke, lower respiratory tract infections, preterm birth complications, and diabetes mellitus. Fortifying regularly consumed foods such as flour, milk, and edible oils with vitamin D3 could raise 25(OH)D concentrations by about 10 ng/mL. However, to achieve 25(OH)D concentrations of 30–40 ng/mL in adults, vitamin D intakes of 1000 to 4000 IU/day would be required, making personal supplement use necessary. On the basis of prospective observational studies and clinical trials of disease incidence or known mortality rates and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, raising mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations to 40 ng/mL would likely reduce incidence and mortality rates for those and other diseases, reduce the rate of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, and increase mean life expectancy by one year or more.
Highlights
Mongolia is a country in Central Asia lying between Russia and China
randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of observational studies are generally considered the best evidence to use in health studies, vitamin D RCTs and observational studies related to serum 25(OH)D
Concentrations have some fundamental problems: vitamin D RCTs are commonly based on vitamin
Summary
Mongolia is a country in Central Asia lying between Russia and China. The population of Mongolia is about 3 million, with about 45% living in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and about 30% being nomadic or seminomadic. According to the World Health Organization, life expectancy for males in Mongolia in 2018 was 65.7 years, whereas that for females was 74.2 years. The latitude of Ulaanbaatar is 47.9 ◦ N and its average elevation is 1350 m. The average day/night temperature in Ulaanbaatar in January is −16/−26 ◦ C, whereas in July, it is +25/+12 ◦ C. Because of that location, producing vitamin D3 in the skin from solar ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure is impossible for 6 months near the end of the year [1,2]
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