Estimated vitamin D synthesis and dietary vitamin D intake among Asians in two distinct geographical locations (Kuala Lumpur, 3°N versus Aberdeen, 57°N) and climates

Jamil, N.A., Yew, M.H., Noor Hafizah, Y., Gray, S.R. , Poh, B.K. and Macdonald, H.M. (2018) Estimated vitamin D synthesis and dietary vitamin D intake among Asians in two distinct geographical locations (Kuala Lumpur, 3°N versus Aberdeen, 57°N) and climates. Public Health Nutrition, 21(17), pp. 3118-3124. (doi: 10.1017/S1368980018002057) (PMID:30176950)

Abstract

Objective: To compare the contributions of UVB exposure and diet to total vitamin D among Asians living in Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Aberdeen (AB). Design: Longitudinal study. Setting: UVB exposure (using polysulfone film badges) and skin colour and dietary vitamin D intake (by web-based questionnaire) were measured at each season in AB and during south-west (SWM) and north-east monsoons (NEM) in KL. Subjects: One hundred and fifteen Asians in KL and eighty-five Asians in AB aged 20–50 years. Results: Median summer UVB exposure of Asians in AB (0·25 SED/d) was higher than UVB exposure for the KL participants (SWM=0·20 SED/d, P=0·02; NEM= 0·14 SED/d, P<0·01). UVB exposure was the major source of vitamin D in KL year-round (60%) but only during summer in AB (59%). Median dietary vitamin D intake was higher in AB (3·50 µg/d (140 IU/d)), year-round, than in KL (SWM=2·05 µg/d (82 IU/d); NEM=1·83 µg/d (73 IU/d), P<0·01). Median total vitamin D (UVB plus diet) was higher in AB only during summer (8·45 µg/d (338 IU/d)) compared with KL (SWM=6·03 µg/d (241 IU/d), P=0·04; NEM=5·35 µg/d (214 IU/d), P<0·01), with a comparable intake across the full year (AB=5·75 µg/d (230 IU/d); KL=6·15 µg/d (246 IU/d), P=0·78). Conclusions: UVB exposure among Asians in their home country is low. For Asians residing at the northerly latitude of Scotland, acquiring vitamin D needs from UVB exposure alone (except in summer) may be challenging due to low ambient UVB in AB (available only from April to October).

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was partly supported by a grant from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (project code: DPP-2013-100) and the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia for the PhD scholarship.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gray, Professor Stuart
• Authors: Jamil, N.A., Yew, M.H., Noor Hafizah, Y., Gray, S.R., Poh, B.K., and Macdonald, H.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Public Health Nutrition
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 1368-9800
• ISSN (Online): 1475-2727
• Published Online: 04 September 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Public Health Nutrition 21(17): 3118-3124
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy