09 September 2011
About 80% of European adolescents may have suboptimal vitamin D blood levels, which potentially increases the risk of chronic diseases, says a new study.
In the observational trial, vitamin D concentrations in blood samples from 1006 adolescents from nine European countries with an age range of 12.5–17.5 years were analyzed (1). The study results showed that around 80% of the participants had suboptimal vitamin D (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) levels i.e., 39% were insufficient (50–75 nmol/l), 27% were deficient (27.5–49.99 nmol/l) and 15% were severely deficient (< 27.5 nmol/l). Vitamin D concentrations increased with age and tended to decrease according to Body Mass Index.
The researchers concluded that vitamin D deficiency is a highly prevalent condition in European adolescents. Due to its important role in cell growth, skeletal structure and development, having an adequate vitamin D status is essential during childhood and adolescence. Vitamin D reduces the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, infections and autoimmune disease and therefore should be a matter of concern for public health authorities.
Adolescents are considered as a risk group for insufficient micronutrient intakes because of their increasing needs of nutrients and energy for adequate growth and development that vary with age (2). However, micronutrient status is not routinely screened in this population group. The main sources of vitamin D are food intake and under-the-skin synthesis from UV light (290–315 nm) exposure. Due to the geographical situation of Europe, vitamin D synthesis may not compensate for a low nutritional intake (3).
2 September 2013
A new US study reports that infants who were fed formula enriched with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from birth to 12 months scored significantly better on several measures of intelligence.
26 September 2012
According to a new Spanish study, vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy could hinder infants' brain and motor development.
19 December 2011
Regular supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid may be more effective in preventing heart attacks in men than in women, a new Australian study says.
