Salmon Intake Intervention in the Vulnerable Group of Young Polish Women to Maintain Vitamin D Status during the Autumn Season

Zofia Utri,Dominika Głąbska

doi:10.3390/su12072829

Abstract

Fish products are the main dietary source of vitamin D, but due to a low fish intake in the majority of European countries, an inadequate vitamin D intake is common, especially in the vulnerable group of young women for whom it is essential for the osteoporosis prevention. The aim of the presented study was to assess the possibility of applying salmon intake intervention for maintaining vitamin D status in young Polish women during the autumn season, in which in Poland there is not enough sunshine exposure to generate skin synthesis. The dietary intervention within VISA Study (Vitamin D In Salmon) comprised eight weeks of daily consumption of 50 g of Atlantic salmon and was conducted in a group of 47 women aged 20–30 years. Within the study, their changes of total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were analyzed and the effectiveness of the intervention depending on age, body mass index (BMI), and baseline 25(OH)D were assessed. Until the 4th week, 25(OH)D in the studied group decreased from 57.1 nmol/L to 39.9 nmol/L (p < 0.0001), but afterward it increased until the 8th week to 54.1 nmol/L (p = 0.0005), contributing to results not differing from the baseline (p = 0.7964). At the same time, the share of respondents characterized by an inadequate vitamin D status increased until the 4th week, but afterward, it decreased until the 8th week (p = 0.0002). Neither the age (in the assessed range), nor the BMI influenced 25(OH)D during the study, but only the baseline 25(OH)D was correlated with the BMI (p = 0.0419; R = −0.2980). The baseline 25(OH)D was associated with its levels during the intervention, as well as with 25(OH)D change from the baseline values (p < 0.0001). It may be concluded that, in spite of the initial decline of the 25(OH)D observed (probably connected to the starting time of the study), afterward the salmon intake intervention contributed to its increase, while the baseline 25(OH)D status was an important determinant of the intervention effectiveness during the autumn season.

Highlights

Vitamin D is of the highest importance for the skeletal system, promoting calcium and phosphorus absorption in the gut, maintaining their adequate concentrations, and for bone growth and remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts [1]
While comparing the serum 25(OH)D level, it was stated that the results differed throughout the study (p = 0.0001; Kruskal-Wallis Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)), but for multiple comparisons, it was stated that the results after 8 weeks of intervention did not differ from the results at baseline (p = 0.7964)
The dietary intakes of vitamin D assessed after four weeks of intervention and those assessed after eight weeks of intervention did not differ (p = 0.5758)

Summary

Introduction

Vitamin D is of the highest importance for the skeletal system, promoting calcium and phosphorus absorption in the gut, maintaining their adequate concentrations, and for bone growth and remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts [1]. Recent meta-analyses show that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk of sleep disorders [2] and may be related to autoimmune thyroid disease [3], whereas high vitamin D serum levels have a protective effect on breast cancer in premenopausal women [4]. They indicate that vitamin D supplementation significantly reduces cancer mortality [5], as well as the rate of asthma exacerbations [6]. In young women aged 18–29 years living in France, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D level lower than 50 nmol/L) amounts to 48.4% and is the highest among female groups [18]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion