Correlates of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D: Cohort Consortium Vitamin D Pooling Project of Rarer Cancers

Am J Epidemiol. 2010 Jul 1;172(1):21-35. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwq113. Epub 2010 Jun 18.

Abstract

Low vitamin D status is common globally and is associated with multiple disease outcomes. Understanding the correlates of vitamin D status will help guide clinical practice, research, and interpretation of studies. Correlates of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations measured in a single laboratory were examined in 4,723 cancer-free men and women from 10 cohorts participating in the Cohort Consortium Vitamin D Pooling Project of Rarer Cancers, which covers a worldwide geographic area. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics were examined in relation to 25(OH)D using stepwise linear regression and polytomous logistic regression. The prevalence of 25(OH)D concentrations less than 25 nmol/L ranged from 3% to 36% across cohorts, and the prevalence of 25(OH)D concentrations less than 50 nmol/L ranged from 29% to 82%. Seasonal differences in circulating 25(OH)D were most marked among whites from northern latitudes. Statistically significant positive correlates of 25(OH)D included male sex, summer blood draw, vigorous physical activity, vitamin D intake, fish intake, multivitamin use, and calcium supplement use. Significant inverse correlates were body mass index, winter and spring blood draw, history of diabetes, sedentary behavior, smoking, and black race/ethnicity. Correlates varied somewhat within season, race/ethnicity, and sex. These findings help identify persons at risk for low vitamin D status for both clinical and research purposes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Case-Control Studies
  • China / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Logistic Models
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / epidemiology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / ethnology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Stomach Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vitamin D / blood*
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / ethnology
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / prevention & control

Substances

  • Vitamin D

Grants and funding