Dietary intake and main food sources of vitamin D as a function of age, sex, vitamin D status, body composition, and income in an elderly German cohort

Abstract

BackgroundElderly subjects are at risk of insufficient vitamin D status mainly because of diminished capacity for cutaneous vitamin D synthesis. In cases of insufficient endogenous production, vitamin D status depends on vitamin D intake.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to identify the main food sources of vitamin D in elderly subjects and to analyse whether contributing food sources differ by sex, age, vitamin D status, body mass index (BMI), or household income. In addition, we analysed the factors that influence dietary vitamin D intake in the elderly.Design and subjectsThis is a cross-sectional study in 235 independently living German elderly aged 66–96 years (BMI=27±4 kg/m2). Vitamin D intake was assessed by a 3-day estimated dietary record.ResultsThe main sources of dietary vitamin D were fish/fish products followed by eggs, fats/oils, bread/bakery products, and milk/dairy products. Differences in contributing food groups by sex, age, vitamin D status, and BMI were not found. Fish contributed more to vitamin D intake in subjects with a household income of <1,500 €/month compared to subjects with higher income. In multiple regression analysis, fat intake and frequency of fish consumption were positive determinants of dietary vitamin D intake, whereas household income and percentage total body fat negatively affected vitamin D intake. Other parameters, including age, sex, physical activity, smoking, intake of energy, milk, eggs and alcohol, showed no significant association with vitamin D intake.ConclusionLow habitual dietary vitamin D intake does not affect vitamin D status in summer, and fish is the major contributor to vitamin D intake independent of sex, age, vitamin D status, BMI, and the income of subjects.

Vitamin D Intake and Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Korean Adults: Analysis of the 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-3) Using a Newly Established Vitamin D Database

“…The percentages of Brazilian men and women aged ≥65 years who consumed less than the AI (10 µg/day) for vitamin D were 98.8% and 99.0%, respectively, which were higher than the percentages of Korean men and women [21]. Additionally, 90.2% of German elders aged 66–96 years consumed less than the AI (10 µg/day) of vitamin D [22]. According to these findings, the elderly in South Korea and foreign countries do not meet the daily dietary reference vitamin D intakes.…”

“…However, the highest contributors of food sources for vitamin D intake in the UK were meat and meat products followed by fat spreads, cereals and cereal products, and fish and fish dishes [20]. In Germany, the main food sources of vitamin D were fish, fats and oils, milk, and breads [22], and in Japan, the main sources of vitamin D were reported to be fish, followed by eggs and mushrooms [38]. Fish and shellfish contribute to over 70% of vitamin D intake in Korea, while they contribute to about 38.5% in Germany [22], 15%–18% in the UK [39], 38% in France [40], 65% in Spain [41], and 12% in Ireland [42].…”

“…In Germany, the main food sources of vitamin D were fish, fats and oils, milk, and breads [22], and in Japan, the main sources of vitamin D were reported to be fish, followed by eggs and mushrooms [38]. Fish and shellfish contribute to over 70% of vitamin D intake in Korea, while they contribute to about 38.5% in Germany [22], 15%–18% in the UK [39], 38% in France [40], 65% in Spain [41], and 12% in Ireland [42]. Japan was shown to be similar to Korea with respect to the contribution of fish and shellfish towards vitamin D intake (79%) [43].…”

Switching to a Healthy Diet Prevents the Detrimental Effects of Western Diet in a Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer Model

“…Our group has also shown that feeding a low vitamin D diet increased tumorigenesis in an AOM/DSS mouse model but simultaneously decreased expression of Ki67 in untransformed colonic mucosa [64]. The severity of IBD seems to correlate with vitamin D deficiency [65] and low levels of vitamin D are a feature of Western diet [66]. However, it is probably never a single nutrient of importance, but the interaction among several nutrients is more effective in counteracting IBD and tumorigenesis.…”

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and selected diet components in postmenopausal women [pdf]

“…Many food products contain small amounts of this vitamin. The most abundant natural source of vitamin D 3 (cholecalciferol) is fish (Jungert et al, 2014). Studies conducted on a population of elderly Japanese women have shown that increased fish consumption was positively correlated with serum 25(OH)D concentration (Nakamura et al, 2000).…”