Abstract
In 2010, the dietary guidelines for vitamin D for Canadians and Americans aged 1–70 years were revised upward. It is unknown whether the vitamin D status of Canadian children improved after 2010. We compared the prevalence of vitamin D sufficiency (25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration of ≥50 nmol/L), 25(OH)D concentration and the frequency of consuming vitamin D-rich foods among children aged 6–18 years-old using data from the nationally representative 2007/2009 and 2012/2013 Canadian Health Measures Surveys. Associations of sociodemographic, anthropometric, seasonal, and regional variables with achieving vitamin D sufficiency, 25(OH)D concentration, and consumption of vitamin D-rich foods were assessed using multiple logistic and linear regression models. 79% and 68% of children in 2007/2009 and 2012/2013 respectively, were vitamin D sufficient. The main dietary source of vitamin D was milk. Between 2007/2009 and 2012/2013, the frequency of milk and fish consumption declined, but egg and red meat consumption was unchanged. Age, income, weight status, season and ethnicity were associated with 25(OH)D concentration and vitamin D sufficiency. Vitamin D status declined after the upward revision of dietary guidelines for vitamin D, consequently, dietary intake was inadequate to meet sufficiency. Public health initiatives to promote vitamin D-rich foods and supplementation for Canadian children are needed.
Highlights
Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient for optimum health
The season in which vitamin D status was assessed was similar in both Canadian Health Measure Survey (CHMS) Cycles, as were the sociodemographic, ethnic and anthropometric characteristics of children
The dietary guidelines presume that vitamin D will be derived from the diet, not from cutaneous synthesis through sun exposure
Summary
Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient for optimum health. Chronic insufficient intake may result in compromised health even in the absence of clinical signs of deficiency, resulting in “hidden hunger”that occurs when the quality of food eaten does not meet nutrient requirements [1]. Canada’s high latitude prevents year-round vitamin D synthesis through sun exposure [2,3]. Cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D is further limited during summer months due to public health. Nutrients 2017, 9, 945 recommendations to cover the arms and legs with clothing, use sunscreen, and avoid prolonged sun exposure [4] as preventive measures against skin cancer [4,5]. Inadequate sun exposure, together with the limited availability of vitamin D-rich foods [2,6] and poor food choices [7,8,9] presumably increase the risk of poor vitamin D status among Canadian children, along with a low prevalence of vitamin D supplement use [10,11,12]
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