Abstract
People have been exposed to a lot of information regarding vitamin D, with evidence suggesting that vitamin D may be involved in numerous health conditions, subsequently creating concerns about vitamin D insufficiency. As a result, what do people really know or believe about this topic? In this cross-sectional study, we assessed vitamin D-related knowledge and beliefs in 59,273 French adults (NutriNet-Santé cohort) using a specific questionnaire. Answers to this questionnaire were weighted according to the French sociodemographic distribution and compared across individual characteristics, using χ2-tests. Physicians and media were identified as key information providers. Participants did not always accurately cite vitamin D sources (e.g., 72% only for sun exposure, fatty fish: 61%) or established health effects (e.g., bone health: 62%–78%). Conversely, they mentioned incorrect sources and health effects for which there is no consensus yet (e.g., skin cancer). These findings were modulated by age/generational and socioeconomic factors. A strong inconsistency was also observed between participants’ true vitamin D status (plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration) and their opinion about it. This study, the first in Europe with such a large sample, stresses the need for simple and up-to-date supports of communication for the public and healthcare professionals regarding sources and health effects of vitamin D.
Highlights
What do people know or think they know about vitamin D? Recently, a lot of attention has been given to vitamin D (VitD)
24% were concerned that their VitD status may be too low (Table 2). This proportion was higher in women, in participants living in northern France (25% vs. 19% in southern France, p < 0.0001, not tabulated), in urban communities, (28% vs. 20% in rural communities, p < 0.0001, not tabulated) and in those reporting low sun exposure (27% vs. 19% for high sun exposure, p < 0.0001, not tabulated)
In a context where vitamin D (VitD) arouses considerable interest in the public and the medical and scientific community, this study, the first in Europe to have such a large sample, provided detailed information on knowledge and beliefs of a general adult population regarding this particular nutrient. These results have highlighted that physicians, and the media, are key information providers on this topic, and that people are getting confused with the health effects and sources of VitD. These findings were modulated by age/generational and socioeconomic factors
Summary
What do people know or think they know about vitamin D? Recently, a lot of attention has been given to vitamin D (VitD). A recent “umbrella review” [15] identified 137 health outcomes covered by systematic literature reviews (n = 107) and meta-analyses of observational studies (n = 74) and of randomized controlled trials (n = 87). Discrepancies were observed between results from observational studies suggesting beneficial roles of VitD in several health outcomes (e.g., cancers, cardiovascular outcomes, cognitive disorders, infections, metabolic disorders, pregnancy/neonatal-related outcomes, dental caries, mortality) and inconclusive results from randomized controlled trials. Discrepancies between studies of different or same types have led to a lack of clear consensus within the scientific community on the role of VitD in health.
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