Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations <50 nmol/L) is a public health issue in Australia and internationally. Those with darker skin require a greater dose of ultraviolet B radiation from sunlight than those with paler skin to synthesise adequate amounts of vitamin D. Using data from the 2011–2013 Australian Health Survey, we investigated the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in African immigrants aged ≥18 years living in Australia (n = 236). Serum 25(OH)D was measured using a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method that is certified to international reference measurement procedures. Poisson regression was used to investigate independent predictors of vitamin D deficiency. A total of 36% of adults were vitamin D deficient (35% of men, 37% of women). The prevalence ratio (PR) of vitamin D deficiency decreased by 2% per year of age (PR 0.98; 95% CI (0.97, 0.99); p = 0.004) and was 1.6 times higher in those with low/sedentary, compared to moderate/high, physical activity levels (PR 1.64; 95% CI (1.12, 2.39); p = 0.011). The greatest risk was for those assessed during winter/spring compared with summer/autumn (PR 1.89; 95% CI (1.33, 2.64); p < 0.001). Culturally appropriate messaging on safe sun exposure and dietary vitamin D is warranted in order to promote vitamin D sufficiency in African immigrants living in Australia.
Highlights
There is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide [1], and, despite living in a relatively sunny country, nearly one in four Australian adults are vitamin D deficient (defined as serum25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations < 50 nmol/L) [2]
The majority (60%) of participants were born in sub-Saharan Africa, and the proportion of men and women was approximately equal (Table 1)
The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 36% (Table 1), and the prevalence was similar for men and women (35% and 37%, respectively)
Summary
There is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide [1], and, despite living in a relatively sunny country, nearly one in four Australian adults are vitamin D deficient (defined as serum25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations < 50 nmol/L) [2]. There is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide [1], and, despite living in a relatively sunny country, nearly one in four Australian adults are vitamin D deficient Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among African people living in Australia (27% to 99%, depending on season and latitude) [4,5,6,7,8,9,10], and this is an increasing proportion of the total Australian population [11,12]. Immigrant children, those with dark skin, have a higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency rickets than the general Australian paediatric population [13].
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