Clinically-diagnosed vitamin deficiencies and disorders in the entire United States military population, 1997–2015
Nutrition Journal Vol 20, # 55 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-021-00708-2
Joseph J. Knapik, Emily K. Farina, Victor L. Fulgoni III & Harris R. Lieberman
Note: Average deficiency rate over 17 years =53
D deficiency for 2015 = 220
By 2021 the rate is is probably >400
Incidence Rate (cases/100,000 person-yr)
This article uses the now disbanded Institute of Medicine definition of deficiency: < 20 ng
Vitamin D levels have been crashing has the following chart
Is 50 ng of vitamin D too high, just right, or not enough
Note: Some US military had 60 ng
Vitamin D titles containing military OR soldiers (29 titles as of June 2021)
Items found: 31
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Title |
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Modified |
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US Military, like several countries, no longer pays for vitamin D testing unless overtly deficient – Aug 2024 |
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13 Sep, 2024 |
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Military gave Vitamin D but only 40% got above 30 ng, no benefit was noticed for the entire group – RCT July 2024 |
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02 May, 2024 |
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Military and Vitamin D - many studies |
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17 Jul, 2023 |
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Vitamin deficiency in US military – Vitamin D is the most prevalent and is growing rapidly – June 2021 |
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16 Jun, 2021 |
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Colds substantially reduced by Vitamin D or UV during military training – Jan 2021 |
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24 Jan, 2021 |
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86 percent of US military no longer have enough Vitamin D (30 ng) – Dec 2020 |
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04 Jan, 2021 |
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Vitamin D trials by military – all 4 found benefit – review Sept 2019 |
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08 Nov, 2019 |
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Vitamin D levels have been crashing since 1995 (Polish Children, Elite Military, etc) |
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09 Sep, 2019 |
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5,000 IU Vitamin D daily resulted in many benefits after 3 months (US soldiers) – RCT March 2019 |
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01 Sep, 2019 |
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85 ng of vitamin D in soldiers deployed to sunny Afghanistan – Jan 2019 |
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04 Jan, 2019 |
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Huge increase in Vitamin D supplementation in the US military (2005-13) – Oct 2016 |
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31 Aug, 2018 |
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No military trainee consumed Vitamin D RDA (most were also low in Magnesium) – July 2018 |
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10 Jul, 2018 |
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Concussion which caused unconsciousness increased risk of Parkinson's by 50 percent (300,000 military) - May 2018 |
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07 May, 2018 |
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Military stationed in US counties with more obesity were more likely to become obese – March 2018 |
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06 Mar, 2018 |
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Large decreases in Vitamin D and Iron during military basic training – March 2017 |
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16 Mar, 2017 |
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Trial starting for Vitamin D with US soldiers – 2,000 and 5,000 IU for 3 months – Nov 2016 |
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03 Nov, 2016 |
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Need for Routine Vitamin D Screening in Military Personnel – Sept 2016 |
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03 Nov, 2016 |
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Increased stress fractures during military training if low vitamin D (now in UK as well as US) – Jan 2016 |
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25 Oct, 2016 |
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Vitamin D prescriptions in US Military increased 5X in 5 years – July 2015 |
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21 Oct, 2016 |
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The Zika Virus Mosquito Is so Dangerous the Military Considered Using It as a Weapon - July 2016 |
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01 Aug, 2016 |
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Traumatic Brain Injury in military - vitamin D - 2014 |
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08 Feb, 2016 |
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Suicide 2X more likely with low vitamin D (in military) – Jan 2013 |
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15 Aug, 2015 |
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High Testosterone is associated with higher vitamin D in soldiers – April 2015 |
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06 Apr, 2015 |
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Omega-3 is important for the soldier – special issue Nov 2014 |
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01 Jan, 2015 |
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Soldiers need more vitamin D before, during, and after service – March 2014 |
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06 Nov, 2014 |
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Hypothesis – Soldiers need more vitamin D before, during, and after service – March 2014 |
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13 Oct, 2014 |
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Increased Bone strength during military training – with just 800 IU of vitamin D and Calcium – RCT April 2014 |
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29 Apr, 2014 |
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Vitamin D might reduce military costs for UC and CD – June 2011 |
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11 Mar, 2014 |
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Military in hot climates and vitamin D deficiency - 2010 |
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11 Mar, 2014 |
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44 percent less Type 1 diabetes if high level of vitamin D – white skinned military – March 2013 |
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13 Apr, 2013 |
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93% of newborns of military in Hawaii had low vitamin D – March 2013 |
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05 Mar, 2013 |
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Background
This study examined incidence rates, temporal trends, and demographic factors associated with vitamin deficiencies/disorders in all United States military personnel from 1997 to 2015 (mean N = 1,382,266/year).
Methods
Employing an ecological study design, the Defense Medical Epidemiological Database and specific International Classification of Diseases codes were used to determine incidence rates for clinically-diagnosed vitamin deficiencies/disorders. Associations with demographic factors were examined.
Results
The overall incidence rate of vitamin deficiencies/disorders was 92.7 cases/100,000 person-years (p-yr). Highest rates were for vitamin D (53.7 cases/100,000 p-yr), other B-complex vitamins (20.2 cases, 100,000 p-yr), vitamin B12 anemia (7.6 cases/100,000 p-yr), deficiencies of “other vitamins” (5.9 cases/100,000 p-yr), and vitamin A (2.5 cases/100,000 p-yr). Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folate, vitamin C, and vitamin K deficiencies and hypervitaminoses A and D had < 1 case/100,000 p-yr. Rates for vitamin D, other B-complex, “other vitamin”, and thiamin deficiencies increased over time, while vitamin A and C deficiencies decreased. Women had higher incidence rates for all examined deficiencies/ disorders except niacin and vitamin C. Incidence rates rose with age in 8 of 15 deficiency/disorder categories and blacks had higher incidence rates in 9 of 15 deficiency/disorder categories.
Conclusions
The overall rate of clinically-diagnosed vitamin deficiencies and disorders was low but higher in women and minority subgroups. As for most illnesses, the diagnosed incidence of such disorders may be an underestimate of the actual incidence. These findings can guide clinical decision making with regard to testing for nutritional deficiencies and delivering public health information to at risk populations.