Vitamin D status and associations with diet, objectively measured physical activity patterns and background characteristics among adolescents in a representative national cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVE

To report on vitamin D status, measured as plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (25(OH)D), the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, and to explore associations between vitamin D status and background characteristics.

DESIGN

Data were collected in a National Dietary Survey, Riksmaten adolescents 2016-2017. The participants completed dietary assessments and questionnaires on the web and wore accelerometers. (25(OH)D) was measured with a MS method.

SETTING

Representative survey conducted in schools throughout Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants attended school years 5 (Y5, mean age 12. 5 years), 8 (Y8, mean age 14. 5 years) and 11 (Y11, mean age 18 years), and included 1100 participants.

RESULTS

Overall, there was no difference in plasma 25(OH)D between girls and boys. Vitamin D insufficiency differed between the three school years. The prevalence of insufficiency in Y5 was 32 (boys) and 48 (girls) percent, while in Y11 62 (boys) and 43 (girls) percent. The prevalence of deficiency in Y11 was 16 and 15 % in boys and girls, respectively. Being born outside of Sweden was associated with a 10-fold increased risk of being vitamin D deficient. Deficiency was also associated with longer time spent in sedentary intensity, a lower consumption of fortified dairy products and fats and oils.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D deficiency was most common in the oldest age group and being born outside of Sweden increased the risk of being deficient. The present study will form a baseline for future follow-up studies of the implementation of a new mandatory vitamin D fortification policy in 2018.