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Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 3 is related to physical activity and ethnicity but not obesity in a multicultural workforce
Author(s) -
Scragg R.,
Holdaway I.,
Singh V.,
Metcalf P.,
Baker J.,
Dryson E.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1995.tb01526.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , pacific islanders , body mass index , obesity , ethnic group , diabetes mellitus , gerontology , endocrinology , polynesians , blood pressure , demography , physiology , population , environmental health , sociology , anthropology
Methods : Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 3 , a marker of recent sun exposure and vitamin D status, was measured in 390 New Zealand residents (95 Pacific Islanders, 74 Maori and 221 others mostly of European descent), who were part of a larger cross‐sectional survey of a workforce ( n = 5677) aged 40–64 years. Results : Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 3 levels were significantly lower in Pacific Islanders (mean (SE) = 56 (3) nmol/L; p = 0.0001) and Maoris (68 (3) nmol/L; p =0.036) compared with Europeans (75 (2) nmol/L) after adjusting for age, sex and time of year. Also adjusting for ethnic group, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, was higher in people doing vigorous (aerobic) leisure physical activities (71 (2) nmol/L; p=0.0066) and moderate (non‐aerobic) activities (68 (3) nmol/L; p = 0.12) compared with those who were inactive (63 (2) nmol/L). However, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 3 was unrelated to body mass index, serum lipids, blood pressure or cigarette smoking. Background : Recent research suggests that body vitamin D levels are decreased in coronary heart disease and diabetes, but it is unclear which cardiovascular risk factors are related to vitamin D status. Aims : To examine the relation between vitamin D status and major cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions : People with increased skin pigmentation, such as Polynesians, and people who are inactive, have decreased body levels of vitamin D; this might partly explain their increased risk of cardiovascular disease.