Very high prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in 6433 UK South Asian adults: analysis of the UK Biobank Cohort

Abstract

Little research has assessed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and its predictors in western dwelling South Asians in a relatively large sample size. This observational, cross-sectional analysis assessed baseline prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in UK dwelling South Asians (aged 40-69 years, 2006-2010) from the UK Biobank cohort. Serum 25(OH)D measurements were undertaken using the DiaSorin Liaison XL assay. Of n 6433 South Asians with a 25(OH)D measurement, using commonly used cut-off thresholds, 55% (n 3538) had 25(OH)D <25 nmol/L (severe deficiency) and 92% (n 5918) had 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L (insufficiency). Twenty per cent (n 1287) had 25(OH)D concentration <15 nmol/L (very severe deficiency). When n 824 participants with undetectable (<10 nmol/L) 25(OH)D measurements were included (total n 7257), 29% (n 2105) had 25(OH)D <15 nmol/L, 60% (n 4354) had 25(OH)D <25 nmol/L and 93% (n 6749) had 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L. Logistic regression predictors of 25(OH)D <25 nmol/L included the following characteristics: being male; Pakistani; higher body mass index; 40-59 years old; never consuming oily fish; summer sun exposure < 5 hours per day, not using a vitamin D containing supplement, measurement in winter or spring and vegetarianism. In terms of region, median 25(OH)D concentration was 19-20 nmol/L in Scotland, Northern England, the Midlands and Wales. Across Southern England and London it was slightly higher at 24-25 nmol/L. Our analyses suggest the need for increased awareness of vitamin D deficiency in South Asians as well as urgent public health interventions to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency in this group.

Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020

“…When an additional 843 participants with undetectable 25(OH)D concentration were included the prevalence of severe vitamin D deficiency rose to 29%. While these data are now at least a decade old, and new recommendations that residents of the United Kingdom should routinely take a 400 international unit supplement may have reduced the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, they highlight the high risk borne by dark-skinned people living at high latitudes [ 101 ]. One of the main consequences of vitamin D deficiency in children is rickets, and over 80% of children with rickets in the United Kingdom are of South Asian or black ethnicity [ 102 ].…”

Physical Determinants of Vitamin D Photosynthesis: A Review

“…( 30 ) A large sample of UK South Asians (aged 40–69 years) showed 92% with serum 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L, 55% <25 nmol/L, and 20% <15 nmol/L. ( 31 ) A study of 5034 Australian adults reported that 20% of participants had serum 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L. ( 32 ) Newborns and the elderly living in institutions are at greatest risk of deficiency.…”

A High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Observed in an Irish South East Asian Population: A Cross-Sectional Observation Study

“…This is particularly true of the migrant Asian population where a large number of investigations in the UK have demonstrated a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D exists in this group [10][11][12][13]. For instance, in 6433 South Asians from the UK Biobank, 92% had blood vitamin D levels <50 nmol/L [14]. To date, however, there has been no estimation of vitamin D status in the Asian migrant population in Ireland, a group comprising approximately 79,000 (1.7%) of the total population [15].…”