| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Emo Peters, Barbara Santarosa
[1]
;
dos Santos, Luana Caroline
[2]
;
Fisberg, Mauro
[3]
;
Wood, Richard James
[4]
;
Martini, Ligia Araujo
[1]
Total Authors: 5
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Sch Nursing, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil
[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Div Pediat, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Tufts Univ, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutr Res Ctr Aging, Mineral Bioavailabil Lab, Boston, MA 02111 - USA
Total Affiliations: 4
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM; v. 54, n. 1, p. 15-21, 2009. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 76 |
| Abstract | |
Background/Aims: Cutaneous sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake are important determinants of vitamin D status. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the vitamin D status of a group of healthy adolescent students living in Brazil. Methods: One hundred and thirty-six adolescents, 64 boys and 72 girls, aged 16-20 years old, living in a rural town in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, participated in this study. Results: The mean dietary vitamin D intake was 140 (120-156) IU/day {[}3.5 (3.0-3.9) mu g/day]. Only 14.9% of the students met the daily adequate intake recommendation of vitamin D. Only 27.9% practice physical activity outdoors and 17.6% of the adolescents apply sunscreen daily. The mean 25(OH)D concentration was 73.0 (22.0) nmol/l {[}29.2 (8.8) ng/ml]. Vitamin D insufficiency was observed in 60% of adolescents. Conclusions: The present study suggests that even in a sunny climate like Brazil the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in adolescents is high. Most likely this is due to low intakes of vitamin D in this group. Due to the limited extent of natural dietary sources of vitamin D, a policy of vitamin D food fortification should be considered in the future, and in the meantime greater use of vitamin D supplements in this population group should be encouraged to provide the increased amounts of this essential nutrient for optimal health. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel (AU) | |