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Background: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations are lower in Pacific people compared to Caucasians living in New Zealand. However, there are no data on the 25OHD concentrations of Pacific people living in the Pacific Islands. Aim: To assess the vitamin D status of indigenous and Indian Fijian women living in Fiji by measuring 25OHD concentrations. Methods: 25OHD concentrations in a national sample of 511 Fijian women (15-44 y). Results: The mean 25OHD concentration of Fijian women was 76 nmol/L (95% CI: 73, 78). 25OHD was lower in Fijian Indian [70 (66, 74) nmol/L; n=205] women compared to indigenous Fijians [80 (76, 84) nmol/L; n=306] (p<0.0001). The mean 25OHD was higher in rural [77 (74, 80) nmol/L; n=392] than urban [70 (65, 76) nmol/L; n=119] women (p<0.0001). Body mass index (BMI) and age were not predictors of 25OHD concentrations. Of Fijian females, 3%, 11%, and 56% had 25OHD concentrations indicative of 25OHD insufficiency using cut-offs of ≤37.5, ≤50 and ≤80 nmol/L, respectively. Conclusion: Mean 25OHD in Fijian women was generally adequate and exceed concentrations reported in Pacific females living in New Zealand.
Key Words: vitamin D status, women, Fijian, Indigenous, Indian
INTRODUCTION
Vitamin D inadequacy increases bone fragility, and maintaining adequate vitamin D status throughout life may reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures.1 Recent evidence has suggested that vitamin D may also be involved in the aetiology of non-communicable diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disorders.1-3 While we obtain a small amount of vitamin D from dietary sources, the majority of vitamin D is synthesised in the skin by the action of ultraviolet B light on 7-dehydrocholesterol.2 Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) is the best indicator of vitamin D status. A major determinant of 25OHD is skin colour; people with highly pigmented skin need more sun exposure to produce the same amount of vitamin D than people with lightly pigmented skin.2,4,5 Lower serum 25OHD concentrations in darker skinned ethnic groups, compared to lighter skinned groups, living in the same geographical area are well documented.6
Recently, we measured serum 25OHD concentrations of New Zealander's in two national surveys, one of school-aged children and the other of adults.7,8 Mean serum 25OHD concentrations were approximately 50 nmol/L, in both children and...