Research
Research and Professional Brief
Adolescent Girls in Maine Are at Risk for Vitamin D Insufficiency

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Abstract

The objective was to determine the seasonal fluctuations in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in a group of healthy adolescents living in a northern climate. Twenty-three 9- to 11-year-old girls participated in the study from September 2000 to March 2003. Serum 25-OHD and parathyroid hormone levels were measured each September and March. Dietary intake of vitamin D was assessed each summer and winter. Summer-sun exposure was evaluated using reports of time spent outdoors. The mean decrease in serum 25-OHD from September to March was 28%. Vitamin D insufficiency (at least one serum 25-OHD level <50 nmol/L) was observed in 11 of 23 (48%) subjects. Four of 23 subjects (17%) exhibited vitamin D insufficiency in both September and March. Mean parathyroid hormone levels increased 4 pg/mL (15%) from September to March. Vitamin D intakes need to be increased in winter at northern latitudes.

Section snippets

Methods

During the summer of 2000, girls aged 9 to 11 years who lived in the area of Bangor, ME (latitude 44°N) were recruited for an observational study of bone mineralization through advertisements in newspapers and fliers posted in the community. Institutional Review Boards at St Joseph Hospital and the University of Maine approved the protocol. Informed consent was obtained from a parent. Exclusion criteria were medical problems influencing vitamin D metabolism; medication use, including vitamin,

Results and Discussion

Twenty-three white girls enrolled in the study in September 2000 and continued until March 2003. Complete dietary and serum data were available on 19 subjects for the 3 years. The other four subjects were missing one or two serum samples. The Table summarizes the data that were complete for each year of the study. Although 12 subjects reported some sunscreen use, all subjects reported times when they were outdoors and not wearing sunscreen. T-shirt and shorts was the usual dress, with about 50%

Conclusions

  • When stressing the importance of adequate calcium intake for bone building during adolescence, dietetics professionals should encourage adequate vitamin D intake for optimal calcium utilization.

  • People of all ages living at northern latitudes should be encouraged to seek adequate sources of vitamin D, including milk and other emerging dietary sources, vitamin D supplements, and short periods of mid-day sun exposure between April and October.

S. S. Sullivan is an assistant professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and W. A. Halteman is an associate professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Maine, Orono. C. J. Rosen is director of the Maine Center for Osteoporosis Research and Education, St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor, ME. T. C. Chen is an associate professor of medicine and M. F. Holick is a professor of medicine, physiology, and biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.

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  • Cited by (0)

    S. S. Sullivan is an assistant professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and W. A. Halteman is an associate professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Maine, Orono. C. J. Rosen is director of the Maine Center for Osteoporosis Research and Education, St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor, ME. T. C. Chen is an associate professor of medicine and M. F. Holick is a professor of medicine, physiology, and biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.

    This study was funded by the Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council, the University of Maine Faculty Research Funds, and NIH grant MORR00533. The authors thank Lori Fowler, Julie Burgess, Jennifer Cobb, Kate Yerxa, and Beth Gluck for assisting with data collection, and Jeff Mathieu for analyzing the serum samples.

    This study was funded in part by the Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council, which has close ties to the milk processing industry in Maine. Dr Michael F. Holick is an Academic Associate for Nichols/Quest Diagnostics, San Clemente, CA.

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