Color by Numbers: When Population Skin Pigmentation Is not Political but a Polytypical Evaluation Exercise to Measure Vitamin D, Diseases, and Skin Pigmentation

Abstract

Vitamin D has received much attention in nutrition science, public health, and other disciplines because of its associations with falls, cancer, women in reproductive years, hypertension, cognition, and mortality. 1 Medical Advisory SecretariatPrevention of falls and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling seniors: An evidence-based analysis. Ont Health Technol Assess Ser. 2008; 8: 1-78 Google Scholar , 2 Kasiappan R. Shen Z. Tse A.K. et al. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 suppresses telomerase expression and human cancer growth through microRNA-498. J Biol Chem. 2012; 287: 41297-41309 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (103) Google Scholar , 3 Nesby-O'Dell S. Scanlon K.S. Cogswell M.E. et al. Hypovitaminosis D prevalence and determinants among African American and white women of reproductive age: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Am J Clin Ntr. 2002; 76: 187-192 Crossref PubMed Scopus (820) Google Scholar , 4 Scragg R. Sowers M. Bell C. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ethnicity, and blood pressure in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Hypertens. 2007; 20: 713-719 Crossref PubMed Scopus (446) Google Scholar , 5 Wilson V.K. Houston D.K. Kilpatrick L. et al. Relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and cognitive function in older adults: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014; 62: 636-641 Crossref PubMed Scopus (50) Google Scholar , 6 Durup D. Jorgensen H.L. Christensen J. Schwarz P. Heegaard A.M. Lind B. A reverse J-shaped association of all-cause mortality with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in general practice: The CopD study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012; 97: 2644-2652 Crossref PubMed Scopus (200) Google Scholar Subpopulations with predispositions of poor vitamin D status are associated with increased disease risks and medical conditions. 7 Fuller K.E. Health disparities: Reframing the problem. Med Sci Monit. 2003; 9: SR9-SR15 PubMed Google Scholar , 8 Moore C.E. Murphy M.M. Holick M.F. Vitamin D intakes by children and adults in the United States differ among ethnic groups. J Nutr. 2005; 135: 2478-2485 Crossref PubMed Scopus (161) Google Scholar , 9 National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionSecond National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition in the US Population, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA2012 Google Scholar National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) results have highlighted variations in vitamin D nutriture according to federal classifications of ethnicity and race. 8 Moore C.E. Murphy M.M. Holick M.F. Vitamin D intakes by children and adults in the United States differ among ethnic groups. J Nutr. 2005; 135: 2478-2485 Crossref PubMed Scopus (161) Google Scholar , 9 National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionSecond National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition in the US Population, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA2012 Google Scholar , 10 Forrest K.Y. Stuhldreher W.L. Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults. Nutr Res. 2011; 31: 48-54 Crossref PubMed Scopus (601) Google Scholar These include the separate and distinct identities of ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino or not Hispanic/Latino) and race (American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or white). Estimates depend on obtaining a representative proportion of a specific racial category, which has led NHANES to use predominantly three categories: non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white, and Mexican American. A. Chalé is an assistant professor, School of Kinesiology and Nutritional Science, California State University, Los Angeles. C. Chalé is a communications consultant, Thames Ditton, Surrey, UK.