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Abstract

Background: Increasing evidence points to a role for vitamin D in modulating risk of various non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, and cancer. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is reported to be high in many parts of the world, even in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Currently, we lack data on vitamin D status of young, healthy adults in Hong Kong, a modern and cosmopolitan city that lies 22oN. Objectives: To investigate the vitamin D status (assessed by plasma 25(OH)D concentration) of apparently healthy young adults in Hong Kong in order to determine prevalence of deficiency and insufficiency (defined here as plasma 25(OH)D)<50 and <75nmol/l, respectively) in this group, and to generate a database for examining inter-relationships between vitamin D status and health status in young people, with focus on early biochemical (biomarker) changes that may increase risk of NCDs in later life. Method: Fasting plasma 25(OH)D concentrations of 173 volunteers (57 men, 116 women) aged 18-26 years were measured by LC-MS/MS. Results: Mean(SD) plasma 25(OH)D concentrations were: 41.0(12.6)nmol/l, with range, 15.7-84.3; 75% (130/173) had levels <50nmol/l; 13/173 (7.5%) were severely deficient (<25nmol/l). Only one subject had plasma 25(OH)D concentration �75nmol/l, the suggested threshold of sufficiency. Men had higher (p<0.05) 25(OH)D: mean(SD) of 44.1(13.3) compared to 39.5(12.0)nmol/l in women. Conclusion: Overall, >99% of the 173 healthy young adults studied had insufficient vitamin D. Results highlight an issue of public health concern due to the growing body of evidence that supports a role for vitamin D modulating NCD risk.

Biography

Email: iris.benzie@polyu.edu.hk