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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Vitamin D deficiency risk factors

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Important risk factors for vitamin D deficiency that can not be changed are non-western ethnicity, older age and colder seasons. Sedentary lifestyle and less sun exposure play a significant role in increasing vitamin D deficiency.

Risk Factors

Risk Factors

The risk factors of vitamin D deficiency can be categorized into three main groups; non-modifiable risk factors, modifiable risk factors, and also factors that are related to mothers’ conditions.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Non-modifiable risk factors

  • Age
  • Ethnicity: non-western ethnicity like African, Asian, Turkish, and Moroccan children are at greater risks than children of western ethnic background.
  • Dark skin color
  • Season: late fall, winter, and spring
  • Geography: higher latitude, lower altitude, cloudy weather

Modifiable risk factors

  • Life style including sedentary behavior, high child television watching, and less outdoor activities
  • Less sun exposure including use of sunscreen or clothing
  • Obesity
  • Being underweight
  • Less milk drinking
  • Not taking vitamin D supplements
  • Exclusive breastfeeding

Maternal risk factors

  • Lower maternal age
  • Lower household income
  • Multiparity
  • Higher maternal BMI
References

References

  1. ↑ Hossein-nezhad A, Holick MF (2013). “Vitamin D for health: a global perspective”. Mayo Clin Proc. 88 (7): 720–55. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2013.05.011. PMC 3761874. PMID 23790560.
  2. ↑ Holick MF (2004). “Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis”. Am J Clin Nutr. 79 (3): 362–71. PMID 14985208.
  3. ↑ MacLaughlin J, Holick MF (1985). “Aging decreases the capacity of human skin to produce vitamin D3”. J Clin Invest. 76 (4): 1536–8. doi:10.1172/JCI112134. PMC 424123. PMID 2997282.
  4. ↑ Voortman T, van den Hooven EH, Heijboer AC, Hofman A, Jaddoe VW, Franco OH (2015). “Vitamin D deficiency in school-age children is associated with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors”. J Nutr. 145 (4): 791–8. doi:10.3945/jn.114.208280. PMID 25833782.
  5. ↑ Kyriakidou-Himonas M, Aloia JF, Yeh JK (1999). “Vitamin D supplementation in postmenopausal black women”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 84 (11): 3988–90. doi:10.1210/jcem.84.11.6132. PMID 10566638.
  6. ↑ Webb AR, Kline L, Holick MF (1988). “Influence of season and latitude on the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D3: exposure to winter sunlight in Boston and Edmonton will not promote vitamin D3 synthesis in human skin”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 67 (2): 373–8. doi:10.1210/jcem-67-2-373. PMID 2839537.
  7. ↑ Wortsman J, Matsuoka LY, Chen TC, Lu Z, Holick MF (2000). “Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity”. Am J Clin Nutr. 72 (3): 690–3. PMID 10966885.
  8. ↑ Rodríguez-Rodríguez E, Navia B, López-Sobaler AM, Ortega RM (2009). “Vitamin D in overweight/obese women and its relationship with dietetic and anthropometric variables”. Obesity (Silver Spring). 17 (4): 778–82. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.649. PMID 19180066.


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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sadaf Sharfaei M.D.[2]