Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Uninsured Women

Authors: KAKARALA, RADHIKA - MCLAREN REGIONAL MED CTR; CHANDANA, SREENIVASA - MCLAREN REGIONAL MED CTR; HARRIS, SUSAN - TUFTS/HNRCA; KOCHARLA, LAKSHMI - UNIV OF CINCINNATI; DVORIN, ELENA - QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC

Submitted to: Journal of General Internal Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2007
Publication Date: 6/2/2007
Citation: Kakarala, R.R., Chandana, S., Harris, S.S., Kocharla, L., Dvorin, E. 2007. Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Uninsured Women. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 22:1180-83.

Interpretive Summary: Vitamin D deficiency is an important risk factor for osteoporosis and other chronic medical conditions, with many people in the United . Uninsured women may be at an even higher risk for vitamin D deficiency than others due to low intake of dietary and supplemental vitamin D and limited sun exposure. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this vulnerable population. We enrolled 145 uninsured women at a County Free Medical Clinic in urban Michigan. Questionnaires were used to obtain information about demographics, medical history, vitamin supplementation, sunlight exposure, and dietary vitamin D intake. The 96 women who were tested for vitamin D status ranged in age from 21 to 65 years, and 67% were vitamin D deficient. Non-Caucasians were three times more likely than Caucasians to be vitamin D deficient. Mean dietary vitamin D intake was low and only 24% of the subjects used any supplemental vitamin D. Subjects with total vitamin D intake of less than 400 IU per day from diet and supplements were 10 times more likely to be vitamin D deficient than others. These results demonstrate a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in an uninsured, medically underserved female population. Uninsured women should be strongly encouraged to increase their vitamin D intake.

Technical Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency, an important risk factor for osteoporosis and other chronic medical conditions, is epidemic in the United States. Uninsured women may be at an even higher risk for vitamin D deficiency than others due to low intake of dietary and supplemental vitamin D and limited sun exposure. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this vulnerable population. We enrolled 145 uninsured women at a County Free Medical Clinic in urban Michigan. Questionnaires were used to obtain information about demographics, medical history, vitamin supplementation, sunlight exposure, and dietary vitamin D intake. The 96 women who were tested for vitamin D status ranged in age from 21 to 65 years (mean 48+/-11), and 67% were vitamin D deficient as indicated by a 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D)] levels <50 nmol/L (20 ng/ml). Non-Caucasians were three times more likely than Caucasians to be vitamin D deficient (P=0.049). Mean dietary vitamin D intake was low (125+/-109 IU/d) and only 24% of the subjects used any supplemental vitamin D. Subjects with total vitamin D intake < 400 IU/d from diet and supplements were 10 times more likely to be vitamin D deficient than others (P<0.001). These results demonstrate a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in an uninsured, medically underserved female population. Uninsured women should be strongly encouraged to increase their vitamin D intake.