The majority of older British Columbians take vitamin D-containing supplements.

Can J Public Health. 2010 May-Jun;101(3):246-50.

Green TJ, Barr SI, Chapman GE.

Food, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

OBJECTIVES: Health Canada recommends vitamin D supplements (10 microg/d) for Canadians aged > or = 50 years, but no data are available on adoption of this recommendation. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine the current use of vitamin D supplements among British Columbian adults 50 years and over, and to explore relationships among vitamin D supplement use, socio-demographic variables, and knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about vitamin supplementation.

METHODS: A population-representative stratified sample, recruited by random-digit dialling, completed a telephone-administered survey in late fall of 2008 . Respondents provided details on supplements used in the past month (dosage, frequency, etc.) and demographic data, and responded to statements reflecting health beliefs about supplements, from which a Supplement Health Belief score was calculated. Eligible non-respondents indicated their age, sex, and whether they had used a supplement within the past month.

RESULTS: Similar proportions of participants (n = 969) and non-respondents (n = 1,027) reported any supplement use in the past month. Among participants, 60% had used a vitamin D supplement (median intake among supplement users was 10 microg/d) and 3% exceeded the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of 50 microg/d. In multivariate analysis, vitamin D supplementation was significantly associated with female sex, not smoking, higher educational attainment, having a health care professional recommend supplement use, and a higher Supplement Health Belief score.

CONCLUSION: Although most older adults used a vitamin D supplement, further dissemination of this recommendation is needed. PMID: 20737819

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