Vitamin D deficiency in Thailand – Editorial
Journal of Clinical & Translational Endocrinology March 2015 doi:10.1016/j.jcte.2014.10.004
Oranan Siwamogsatham, MD
Boonsong Ongphiphadhanakul, MD
Vin Tangpricha, MD, PhD,
Vitamin D deficiency has received increased attention over the past several years since vitamin D may play an important role not only in bone metabolism but also in a variety of non-skeletal diseases such as diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancer [1], [2] and [3]. Vitamin D is primarily synthesized in the skin and is partly derived from dietary sources [4]. During exposure to sunlight, ultraviolet B (UVB) (wavelength 290–305 nm) penetrates the skin and converts 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3. Previtamin D3 is then rapidly converted by a heat dependent process to vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) [5] and [6]. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), from dietary sources or supplements, and vitamin D3 are metabolized in the liver to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), which is the major circulating form of vitamin D and is used to determine an individual's vitamin D status [1]. The circulating 25(OH)D is then metabolized in the kidneys to its biologically more active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1].
Many factors can alter cutaneous vitamin D production such as aging, skin pigmentation, sunscreen usage, time of the day, season and latitude [5] and [7]. Latitude is an important determinant of vitamin D status since the amount of UVB that penetrates the earth's surface decreases markedly with increasing latitude [8]. People residing far from the equator are at an increased risk for vitamin D deficiency due to decreased cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D [9]. People residing near the equator should have lower prevalence of vitamin D deficiency compared to people living at high latitudes. However, according to the recent studies, vitamin D deficiency is also common in these countries [10] and [11].
In this issue of Journal of Clinical and Translational Endocrinology, Alissa et al. found that vitamin D insufficiency is common in the sunny climate in Saudi Arabia [3]. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is also common in Thailand (at latitudes between 5°30′ N and 20°30′ N) where adequate UVB exposure is available all year round as shown in Table 1[12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17] and [18]. Chailurkit et al. [12] conducted the largest-scale examination of vitamin D status in Thai population and reported a 45.2% prevalence rate of vitamin D insufficiency, defined as serum 25(OH)D level < 30 ng/mL (<75 nmol/L) a 5.7% prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency, defined as serum 25(OH)D level <20 ng/mL (<50 nmol/L). Low serum 25(OH)D concentrations were more prevalent in individuals with female gender, younger age and urban versus rural residence in Thailand. Chailurkit et al. [13] and Kruavit et al. [14] assessed vitamin D status in healthy Thai elderly women and found that two-thirds had vitamin D insufficiency and one-third had vitamin D deficiency. Women living in a nursing home have a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency than in free-living women, 39.8% compared to 30%, respectively [13]. Soontrapa et al. [15] evaluated vitamin D status in a younger group of premenopausal women found the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency to be 77.8%, which was as high as the rate found in elderly Thai women living in nursing homes. Nimitphong et al. [16] evaluated vitamin D status in healthy young Thai men and women (age 25–54 years) and found that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was three-fold higher in females than in males (43.1% in females compared to 13.9% in males). Charatcharoenwitthaya et al. [17] demonstrated that 83.3% of pregnant Thai women, especially in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, had vitamin D insufficiency but without association with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as spontaneous abortion, gestational diabetes, cesarean section rate and preterm labor. They also demonstrated that intake of prenatal vitamins at the vitamin D dose of 400 IU/day was sufficient to prevent vitamin D deficiency but was not high enough to prevent vitamin D insufficiency. Rojroongwasonkul et al. [18] showed in a recent study in Thai children that vitamin D deficiency was also highly prevalent in school children aged 3–12.9 years. Vitamin D deficiency was found in at least one fourth of children living in rural areas. Over half the children aged 6–12.9 years residing in urban areas had serum 25(OH)D less then 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L).
Life style and environmental factors are the major factors that determine vitamin D status in Thai people. Thai women are at risk for vitamin D insufficiency likely due to sunscreen usage and sun avoidant behavior due to the desire to maintain a fair complexion. Living in urban areas such as in Bangkok, increases the risk of vitamin D insufficiency due to increased pollution, which decreases the amount of UVB available for cutaneous vitamin D synthesis. Also at increased risk for vitamin D insufficiency are young Thai people living in urban areas in Thailand who have less leisure time and spend less time in the sunlight. Furthermore, in Thailand dairy products are not fortified with vitamin D and very few vitamin D-rich foods are part of the Thai diet. Thus, dietary intake of vitamin D in Thai people is generally low.
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- Another urban area in a sunny climate is vitamin D deficient – Bangkok Nov 2011
- Yet again – vitamin D levels very low in sunny Saudia Arabia – April 2011
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- People in Louisiana may be avoiding the hot sun like those in Middle East – May 2012
- Overview Middle East and vitamin D
click on chart for details