The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS) was a 10-year longitudinal study of the development of obesity and CVD risk factors (including dietary, psychosocial, environmental and others) in 2,379 African-American and white females who were 9 or 10 years old at study entry. Current studies have documented a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among healthy children, adolescents and young adults in the United States, especially among low-income, black and Hispanic children (defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of ≤ 20 ng/mL). Although the main source of vitamin D is direct exposure of the skin to ultraviolet rays from sunlight, certain foods contribute vitamin D including fortified milk, meat, eggs, oils and fortified cereals. Vulnerable subgroups that are especially at risk of inadequate intakes of vitamin D, include teenage girls and women. Research providing the prevalent food sources of vitamin D, especially in the diets of both white and African American female adolescents is limited. The purpose of this study is to document food sources of vitamin D reported by this biracial young cohort and compare potential ethnic or other differences that could enhance tailored dietary interventions that are particularly relevant to this vulnerable population subgroup.
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