Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents and young adults
Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is a public health concern worldwide. Maintaining vitamin D sufficiency during growth periods is essential. We aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in Australian adolescents and young adults. Subject/Methods: We used dat...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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SPRINGERNATURE
2021
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| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1099655 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93223 |
| _version_ | 1848765712009527296 |
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| author | Horton-French, Kahlea Dunlop, Eleanor Lucas, R.M. Pereira, Gavin Black, Lucinda |
| author_facet | Horton-French, Kahlea Dunlop, Eleanor Lucas, R.M. Pereira, Gavin Black, Lucinda |
| author_sort | Horton-French, Kahlea |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is a public health concern worldwide. Maintaining vitamin D sufficiency during growth periods is essential. We aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in Australian adolescents and young adults. Subject/Methods: We used data from adolescents (12–17 years, n = 692) and young adults (18–24 years, n = 400) who participated in the nationally representative 2011–2013 Australian Health Survey. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were measured using a method certified to international standards, with prevalence reported for <50 (vitamin D deficiency), 50–<75, ≥75 and >125 nmol/L. Independent predictors of vitamin D deficiency were determined using a survey-weighted Poisson regression model. Results: Overall, 17% of adolescents and 32% of young adults were vitamin D deficient. In models adjusted for sex, age, region of birth, socioeconomic status, BMI and season (and education, smoking status and physical activity in young adults only), the prevalence ratio (PR) for vitamin D deficiency was more than double in participants born outside Australia (adolescents: PR 2.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.59, 3.81; young adults: PR 2.12; 95% CI = 1.46, 3.07), and also varied by season (adolescents: spring vs summer PR 2.47; 95% CI = 1.22, 5.01 and winter vs summer PR 2.01; 95% CI = 1.03, 3.92; young adults: winter vs summer; PR 3.32; 95% CI = 1.69, 6.53). Other predictors of vitamin D deficiency were overweight compared with healthy weight (adolescents) and lower physical activity (young adults). Conclusions: Strategies based on safe sun exposure and dietary approaches are needed to achieve and maintain adequate vitamin D status, particularly in young adults. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:39:36Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-93223 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:39:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | SPRINGERNATURE |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-932232023-10-09T01:25:58Z Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents and young adults Horton-French, Kahlea Dunlop, Eleanor Lucas, R.M. Pereira, Gavin Black, Lucinda Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Nutrition & Dietetics CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK-FACTORS BODY-MASS INDEX PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY D INSUFFICIENCY CHILDREN ASSOCIATION OBESITY POPULATION DEFINITION CHILDHOOD Adolescent Australia Exercise Humans Prevalence Seasons Vitamin D Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamins Young Adult Humans Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamins Vitamin D Exercise Prevalence Seasons Adolescent Australia Young Adult Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is a public health concern worldwide. Maintaining vitamin D sufficiency during growth periods is essential. We aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in Australian adolescents and young adults. Subject/Methods: We used data from adolescents (12–17 years, n = 692) and young adults (18–24 years, n = 400) who participated in the nationally representative 2011–2013 Australian Health Survey. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were measured using a method certified to international standards, with prevalence reported for <50 (vitamin D deficiency), 50–<75, ≥75 and >125 nmol/L. Independent predictors of vitamin D deficiency were determined using a survey-weighted Poisson regression model. Results: Overall, 17% of adolescents and 32% of young adults were vitamin D deficient. In models adjusted for sex, age, region of birth, socioeconomic status, BMI and season (and education, smoking status and physical activity in young adults only), the prevalence ratio (PR) for vitamin D deficiency was more than double in participants born outside Australia (adolescents: PR 2.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.59, 3.81; young adults: PR 2.12; 95% CI = 1.46, 3.07), and also varied by season (adolescents: spring vs summer PR 2.47; 95% CI = 1.22, 5.01 and winter vs summer PR 2.01; 95% CI = 1.03, 3.92; young adults: winter vs summer; PR 3.32; 95% CI = 1.69, 6.53). Other predictors of vitamin D deficiency were overweight compared with healthy weight (adolescents) and lower physical activity (young adults). Conclusions: Strategies based on safe sun exposure and dietary approaches are needed to achieve and maintain adequate vitamin D status, particularly in young adults. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93223 10.1038/s41430-021-00880-y English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1099655 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1173991 SPRINGERNATURE unknown |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Nutrition & Dietetics CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK-FACTORS BODY-MASS INDEX PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY D INSUFFICIENCY CHILDREN ASSOCIATION OBESITY POPULATION DEFINITION CHILDHOOD Adolescent Australia Exercise Humans Prevalence Seasons Vitamin D Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamins Young Adult Humans Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamins Vitamin D Exercise Prevalence Seasons Adolescent Australia Young Adult Horton-French, Kahlea Dunlop, Eleanor Lucas, R.M. Pereira, Gavin Black, Lucinda Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents and young adults |
| title | Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents and young adults |
| title_full | Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents and young adults |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents and young adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents and young adults |
| title_short | Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents and young adults |
| title_sort | prevalence and predictors of vitamin d deficiency in a nationally representative sample of australian adolescents and young adults |
| topic | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Nutrition & Dietetics CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK-FACTORS BODY-MASS INDEX PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY D INSUFFICIENCY CHILDREN ASSOCIATION OBESITY POPULATION DEFINITION CHILDHOOD Adolescent Australia Exercise Humans Prevalence Seasons Vitamin D Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamins Young Adult Humans Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamins Vitamin D Exercise Prevalence Seasons Adolescent Australia Young Adult |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1099655 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1099655 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93223 |