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Minerals, trace elements, Vit. D and bone health

Factors associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in older people in Europe: the EUREYE study

Abstract

Background/Objectives

We aimed to describe serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations in older Europeans and to investigate associations between 25OHD and lifestyle factors, including dietary intake and supplement use.

Subjects/Methods

Men and women aged ≥ 65 years were recruited from seven centres across north to south Europe. Serum 25OHD2 and 25OHD3 concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in 4495 samples and total 25OHD (25OHD2 + 25OHD3) was adjusted for season of blood collection.

Results

The mean (25th, 75th quartile) of seasonally adjusted 25OHD was 46 (34, 65) nmol/L, with the highest concentration of 25OHD in Bergen [61 (49, 79) nmol/L], and the lowest in Paris [36 (24, 57) nmol/L)]. Vitamin D deficiency (25–50 nmol/L) and vitamin D insufficiency (50–75 nmol/L) were found in 41 and 33% of the population, respectively. In multivariable analysis controlled for confounders, seasonally adjusted 25OHD concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in smokers and participants with self-reported diabetes and higher with increasing dietary vitamin D, and supplement use with fish liver oil, omega-3, and vitamin D. Additionally, in further analysis excluding Bergen, 25OHD was associated with higher intakes of oily fish and increasing UVB exposure. We observed low concentrations of 25OHD in older people in Europe.

Conclusions

Our findings of the higher 25OHD concentrations in supplement users (omega-3 fish oil, fish liver oil, vitamin D) add to current recommendations to reduce vitamin D deficiency. We were unable to fully assess the role of dietary vitamin D as we lacked information on vitamin D-fortified foods.

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Acknowledgements

The European Eye (EUREYE) Study was supported by the European Commission 5th Framework (QLK6-CT-1999-02094), the Macular Disease Society UK, UK MRC Biomarkers Award (G0601354), Pocklington Trust and Guide Dogs for the Blind (OR2011-05d). MR salaried by his home institute (grant IUT5-1 from the Estonian Research Council). Additional funding in Alicante was received from the Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain (grants FIS 01/1692E, RCESP C 03/09), and Oficina de Ciencia y Tecnologia Generalitat Valencia, Valencia, Spain (grant CTGCA/2002/06).

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Contributions

UC, MR, JS, GS, LT, FT, JV, and AEF designed and implemented the EUREYE study. CC, ISY, JVW, and AMcG formulated the current research question, JMcP carried out the laboratory analysis, CC and AEF analysed the data. JVW, AMcG, and AEF supervised the work. CC wrote the manuscript. All authors revised the manuscript and approved the final draft. All authors have agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

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Correspondence to Jayne V. Woodside.

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Casey, C., Woodside, J.V., McGinty, A. et al. Factors associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in older people in Europe: the EUREYE study. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 319–328 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0353-1

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