Hypovitaminosis D prevalence and determinants among African American and white women of reproductive age: third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994,

Abstract

Background: Recent reports of rickets among African American children drew attention to the vitamin D status of these infants and their mothers. African American women are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency than are white women, but few studies have examined determinants of hypovitaminosis D in this population. Objective: We examined the prevalence and determinants of hypovitaminosis D among African American and white women of reproductive age. Design: We examined 1546 African American women and 1426 white women aged 15–49 y who were not pregnant and who participated in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994). Hypovitaminosis D was defined as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration ≤37.5 nmol/L. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the independent association of dietary, demographic, and behavioral determinants of hypovitaminosis D. Results: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 42.4 ± 3.1% (x̄ ± SE) among African Americans and 4.2 ± 0.7% among whites. Among African Americans, hypovitaminosis D was independently associated with consumption of milk or breakfast cereal Conclusions: The high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among African American women warrants further examination of vitamin D recommendations for these women. The determinants of hypovitaminosis D among women should be considered when these women are advised on dietary intake and supplement use.