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Vitamin D status of Canadians as measured in the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey
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by Kellie Langlois, Linda Greene-Finestone, Julian Little, Nick Hidiroglou and Susan Whiting
Abstract
Keywords
Findings
Authors
What is already known on this subject?
What does this study add?
Abstract
Background
Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem, but little is known about the vitamin D status of Canadians.
Data and methods
The data are from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey, which collected blood samples. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means) were used to estimate 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations among a sample of 5,306 individuals aged 6 to 79 years, representing 28.2 million Canadians from all regions, by age group, sex, racial background, month of blood collection, and frequency of milk consumption. The prevalence of deficiency and the percentages of the population meeting different cut-off concentrations were assessed.
Results
The mean concentration of 25(OH)D for the Canadian population aged 6 to 79 years was 67.7 nmol/L. The mean was lowest among men aged 20 to 39 years (60.7 nmol/L) and highest among boys aged 6 to 11 (76.8 nmol/L). Deficiency (less than 27.5 nmol/L) was detected in 4% of the population. However, 10% of Canadians had concentrations considered inadequate for bone health (less than 37.5 nmol/L) according to 1997 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Standards (currently under review). Concentrations measured in November-March were below those measured in April-October. White racial background and frequent milk consumption were significantly associated with higher concentrations.
Interpretation
As measured by plasma 25(OH)D, 4% of Canadians aged 6 to 79 years were vitamin D-deficient, according to 1997 IOM standards (currently under review). Based on these standards, 10% of the population had inadequate concentrations for bone health.
Keywords
sun exposure, milk, ethnicity
Findings
The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), launched by Statistics Canada in 2007 in partnership with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, collected direct physical measures of health and wellness from a nationally representative sample of Canadians. It is the most comprehensive direct health measures survey undertaken in Canada at the national level. A fundamental aspect of the CHMS is the collection of blood and urine samples, which were analyzed for chronic and infectious diseases, environmental toxins, and nutritional biomarkers, including glucose, cholesterol, calcium, and vitamin D. This study examines 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in the Canadian population aged 6 to 79 years and factors shown to affect vitamin D status.[Full text]
Authors
Kellie Langlois (613-951-3806; Kellie.Langlois@statcan.gc.ca) is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0T6. Linda Greene-Finestone is with the Chronic Disease Prevention Division at the Public Health Agency of Canada. Julian Little is with the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Nick Hidiroglou is with the Health Products and Food Branch at Health Canada. Susan Whiting is with the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan.
What is already known on this subject?
- Data from other countries report a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.
- Small studies have indicated that some Canadian subgroups have relatively low vitamin D concentrations.
What does this study add?
- This analysis examines vitamin D status in a nationally representative sample of Canadians.
- About 4% of Canadians aged 6 to 79 are vitamin D-deficient, and more than 10% do not have concentrations adequate for bone health. However, 35% are above the cut-off (75 nmol/L) recently suggested as desirable for overall health and disease prevention.
- Low milk consumption and non-White racial background are associated with lower plasma 25(OH)D concentrations.
