Differences in the dietary requirement for vitamin D among Caucasian and East African women at Northern latitude
European Journal of Nutrition, pp 1–11 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1775-1
Kevin D. Cashman, Christian Ritz, Folasade A. Adebayo, Kirsten G. Dowling, Suvi T. Itkonen, Taina Öhman, Essi Skaffari, Elisa M. SaarnioMairead KielyChristel Lamberg Allardt
Note: Virtually none achieved 30 ng, even with up to 2,000 IU of daily intake
Note: Only 2 or 3 countries on Earth consider 12 ng to be acceptable
Most countries have found major health problems with a 12 ng level
Most countries have a target of 30 ng, not 12 ng
Lots of research suggests that the goal should be 40, 50, or even higher levels of vitamin D
See also VitaminDWiki
- Is 50 ng of vitamin D too high, just right, or not enough
- 1,000 IU of vitamin D from the sun not available in the winter (Switzerland too) – April 2019
Healthy pregnancies need lots of vitamin D has the following summary
Most were taking 2,000 to 7,000 IU daily for >50% of pregnancy
Click on hyperlinks for details
Problem | Vit. D Reduces | Evidence |
| 0. Chance of not conceiving | 3.4 times | Observe |
| 1. Miscarriage | 2.5 times | Observe |
| 2. Pre-eclampsia | 3.6 times | RCT |
| 3. Gestational Diabetes | 3 times | RCT |
| 4. Good 2nd trimester sleep quality | 3.5 times | Observe |
| 5. Premature birth | 2 times | RCT |
| 6. C-section - unplanned | 1.6 times | Observe |
| Stillbirth - OMEGA-3 | 4 times | RCT - Omega-3 |
| 7. Depression AFTER pregnancy | 1.4 times | RCT |
| 8. Small for Gestational Age | 1.6 times | meta-analysis |
| 9. Infant height, weight, head size within normal limits | RCT | |
| 10. Childhood Wheezing | 1.3 times | RCT |
| 11. Additional child is Autistic | 4 times | Intervention |
| 12.Young adult Multiple Sclerosis | 1.9 times | Observe |
| 13. Preeclampsia in young adult | 3.5 times | RCT |
| 14. Good motor skills @ age 3 | 1.4 times | Observe |
| 15. Childhood Mite allergy | 5 times | RCT |
| 16. Childhood Respiratory Tract visits | 2.5 times | RCT |
RCT = Randomized Controlled Trial
PDF is available free at Sci-Hub 10.1007/s00394-018-1775-1
Note: Virtually no women got above 30 ng with up to 2,000 IU of daily vitamin D
Context
Current vitamin D recommendations have been established based on an assumption that there are no differences between Caucasian and other ethnic/racial groups in terms of vitamin D requirements. This assumption, largely made due to the absence of data, is a key knowledge gap identified by a number of authorities.
Objective
To test whether the distribution of dietary requirements for maintaining winter serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations ≥ 30 nmol/L (a priority threshold linked to vitamin D deficiency prevention) differ between Caucasian and Somali women living at northerly latitude.
Methods
We used data from a 5-month, winter-based, vitamin D3 dose-related randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Somali (n 47) and Causcian women (n 69), aged 21–64-year old, living in Southern Finland (60°N), to model the vitamin D intake–serum 25(OH)D dose–response relationship. Regression analyses were used to predict the vitamin D intake required to maintain 97.5% (as well as 50, 90, and 95%) of women in both ethnic groups above serum 25(OH)D thresholds of 30, 40 and 50 nmol/L.
Results
Using a model which adjusted for baseline 25(OH)D, age, and BMI, the estimated vitamin D intake that maintained serum 25(OH)D ≥ 30 nmol/L in 97.5% of Caucasian and Somali women was 8 and 18 µg/day, respectively. Ethnic differences were also evident at 40 and 50 nmol/L serum 25(OH)D thresholds.
Conclusion
The present study adds further evidence that ethnic differences in the dietary requirement for vitamin D do exist and that dose–response vitamin D intervention studies are required in at-risk target populations specified by ethnicity.