scholarly journals Future perspectives in addressing the global issue of vitamin D deficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Mendes ◽  
K. Charlton ◽  
S. Thakur ◽  
H. Ribeiro ◽  
S. A. Lanham-New
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Population Level ◽  
The Body ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Global Issue ◽  
Wide Range

Vitamin D is a fundamentally critical nutrient that the human body requires to function properly. It plays an important role in musculoskeletal health due to its involvement in the regulation of calcium and phosphorus. Having a low level of vitamin D in the body may be detrimental for a wide range of health outcomes, including risk of osteoporotic and stress fractures, risk of CVD and some cancers, and lowering of the capability of the immune system. Vitamin D is an unusual nutrient; it is not a vitamin, in the true sense of the word but a pro-hormone. The main source of vitamin D is UV exposure, not dietary intake. Interestingly, there are two forms of vitamin D, vitamin D2 and vitamin D3, both of which are metabolised into 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in the liver, the biomarker of vitamin D status. Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health problem, especially amongst older people and ethnic minority groups. The newest publication from the UK Government's Public Health England Department recommends that vitamin D intake should be 10 μg daily and this recommendation compares well (albeit lower) with other guidelines such as the Institute of Medicine recommendation of 15 μg for those aged 1–70 years and 20 μg for those 70 years or over. Few countries, however, have a specific vitamin D policy to prevent deficiency in populations. Finland leads the way, demonstrating impressive results in reducing population-level vitamin D deficiency through mandatory food fortification programmes. Collaboration between academia, government and industry, including countries from varying latitudes, is essential to identify long-term solutions to the global issue of vitamin D deficiency. This paper provides a narrative review of the evidence related to the role of vitamin D deficiency in health outcomes, outlines controversies regarding setting levels of adequacy, identifies the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency across the globe, and identifies population-level strategies adopted by countries to prevent vitamin D deficiency.

scholarly journals Vitamin D and COVID-19 infection; recent findings

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e19-e19
Author(s):  
Alireza Pouramini ◽  
Fatemeh Kafi ◽  
Shakiba Hassanzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Exact Role ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Global Public Health Problem

COVID-19 infection increases the risk of death in patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes or obesity. The exact role of vitamin D in COVID-19 infection is unknown and controversial. Furthermore, the exact prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is still unknown but it affects individuals worldwide regardless of ethnicity and age. Herein, we give an overview of vitamin D deficiency as a global public health problem, the role of vitamin D in COVID-19 infection, and the proper approach to treating vitamin D deficiency.

scholarly journals Variable Responses to Vitamin-D Dosing

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Gokhale ◽  
Gokhale Sankalp
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Mineral Metabolism ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Musculoskeletal Health ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Global Public Health Problem

Vitamin D deficiency is recognized as a global public health problem, with deficiency states reported from various countries. Acting as a Pro-Hormone; this is a unique endogenously synthesized vitamin. Besides its pivotal role in calcium homeostasis and bone mineral metabolism, the vitamin-D endocrine system is now recognized to sub-serve a wide range of fundamental biological functions in cell differentiation, inhibition of cell growth, and immunomodulation. Vitamin-D deficiency affects not only musculoskeletal health but also a wide range of acute and chronic disease.

scholarly journals Barriers in Adult Vitamin D Service Provision by Health Care Workers: a Qualitative Study in Three Ecologies of Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wubegzier Mekonnen ◽  
Yeweyenhareg Feleke ◽  
Wubetsh Asnake ◽  
Jemal Haidar ◽  
Biruk Lambisso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Service Training

Abstract Background: Adult vitamin D deficiency, a public health problem in low-income countries, is correlated with increased mortality. Although health care workers (HCWs) in Ethiopia are educated on minerals counseling on the benefits of vitamin D and its sources is not witnessed since their knowledge is low. The main aim of this study is to explore barriers to good knowledge, positive attitude, and practice of health care providers on adult vitamin D.Methods: An exploratory qualitative study is done in three ecologies covering highland, midland, and lowland. The size of 27 participants was fixed by saturation of ideas. In-depth interviews were conducted among leaders and HCWs of different professional groups in health centers and hospitals. Moderators were Ph.D. holders. An interview guide was developed after reviewing research that was translated into the local language. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and, translated. Open Code software was used to code and categorize the data. Thematic analysis is presented using themes and sub-themes.Result: The main barriers are related to health systems, HCWs’ understandings, health facilities, and the educational system. Lack of attention by the health systems’ leadership, missing adult vitamin D as a priority in health programs, and the absence of adult vitamin D management and treatment guidelines are barriers related to the health system. On the other hand, health care professionals believed that the prevalence of adult vitamin D deficiency is insignificant and vitamin D deficiency is only an issue related to children. Besides, the inadequacy of laboratory investigation and limited in-service training are barriers related to health facilities while the absence of studies and the focus of the medical curriculum on child vitamin D are barriers related to the education system. Conclusion: Adult vitamin D deficiency is a neglected public health problem with many barriers related to diagnosis and treatment. Barriers are related to the professionals themselves, their leadership, health facilities, and the education system. The government should give attention to adult vitamin D management and treatment, continuous on the job training, development of guidelines, purchase of laboratory equipment, the inclusion of adult vitamin D in pre-service and, in-service training curriculums.

Clinical, Research, and Public Health Implications of Poor Measurement of Vitamin D Status

2017 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1225-1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn M Lucas ◽  
Shelley Gorman ◽  
Lucinda Black ◽  
Rachel E Neale
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Reference Method ◽  
Vitamin D Status ◽  
Absolute Level ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract There is widespread concern about the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency amid evidence to support that such a state may increase the risk of a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Estimating the prevalence of deficiency, as well as establishing linksto health outcomes, requires the accurate and precise measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in serum or plasma. Accurate measurement of 25(OH)D underlies the definitions of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency and, thus, prevalence estimates. Imprecise measurement of 25(OH)D in epidemiological research can result in incorrect null findingsof associations with disease. When associations withdisease are found, the inaccuracy of measurement forestalls defining the absolute level of 25(OH)D thatis associated with increased risk. For the clinician,both inaccuracy and imprecision are problematic, because clinical care is most often based on a single measurement to define vitamin D status. New initiatives to develop a standard reference method and the assignment of “true” values to samples provide a solution to these problems. The use of standardized assays in large population studies will allow comparisons to be made between populations and over time that have not previously been possible and will improve our understanding of the role of vitaminD in health and disease.

scholarly journals Food-based solutions for vitamin D deficiency: putting policy into practice and the key role for research

2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aoife Hayes ◽  
Kevin D. Cashman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Vitamin D Intake ◽  
Dietary Reference Values ◽  
High Degree

Recent re-evaluations of dietary reference values (DRV) for vitamin D have established intake requirements between 10 and 20 µg/d. National nutrition surveys indicate that habitual mean intakes of vitamin D in the population are typically in the range 3–7 µg/d. As vitamin D supplementation will not be effective at a population level because the uptake is generally low, creative food-based solutions are needed to bridge the gap between current intakes and these new requirement values. The overarching aim of this review is to highlight how food-based solutions can have an important role in bridging this gap and counteracting vitamin D inadequacy in Europe and elsewhere. The present review initially briefly overviews very recent new European DRV for vitamin D and, while not in agreement on requirement estimates, how they point very clearly to the need for food-based solutions. The review discusses the need for traditional fortification of foods in the dairy and other sectors, and finally overviews recent advances in the area of biofortification of food with vitamin D. In conclusion, increasing vitamin D intakes across the population distribution is important from a public health perspective to reduce the high degree of inadequacy of vitamin D intake in Europe. Fortification, including biofortification, of a wider range of foods, which accommodate diversity, is likely to have the potential to increase vitamin D intakes across the population distribution. Research has had, and will continue to have, a key role in terms of developing food-based solutions and tackling vitamin D deficiency.

scholarly journals Barriers in Adult Vitamin D Service Provision by Health Care Workers: A Qualitative Study in Three Ecologies of Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wubegzier Mekonnen ◽  
Yeweyenhareg Feleke ◽  
Wubetsh Asnake ◽  
Yakob Desalegn ◽  
Jemal Haidar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Service Training

Abstract Background: Adult vitamin D deficiency, which is a public health problem in low-income countries, is correlated with increased mortality. Although health care workers (HCWs) in Ethiopia are educated on important minerals their counseling on the uses of vitamin D and its possible sources was not witnessed since their knowledge and practice is low. The main aim of this study is to explore barriers to good knowledge, positive attitude, and practice of health care providers on adult vitamin D.Methods: An exploratory qualitative study is done in three ecologies covering highland, midland, and lowland. The size of 27 participants was fixed by saturation of ideas. In-depth interviews were conducted among leaders and HCWs of different professional groups in health centers and hospitals. Moderators were Ph.D. holders. An interview guide was developed after reviewing research that was translated into the local language. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and, translated. Open Code software was used to code and categorize the data. Themes were developed using thematic analysis which is presented using themes and sub-themes.Result: The main barriers are related to health systems, HCWs’ understandings, health facilities, and the educational system. Lack of attention by the health systems’ leadership, missing adult vitamin D as a priority in health programs, and the absence of adult vitamin D management and treatment guidelines are barriers related to the health system. On the other hand, health care professionals believed that the prevalence of adult vitamin D deficiency is insignificant and vitamin D deficiency is only an issue related to children. Besides, the inadequacy of laboratory investigation and limited in-service training are barriers related to health facilities while the absence of studies and the focus of the medical curriculum on child vitamin D are barriers related to the education system. Conclusion: Adult vitamin D deficiency is a neglected public health problem with many barriers related to diagnosis and treatment. Barriers are related to the professionals themselves, their leadership, health facilities, and the education system. The government should give attention to adult vitamin D management and treatment, continuous on the job training, development of guidelines, purchase of laboratory equipment, the inclusion of adult vitamin D in pre-service and, in-service training curriculums.

scholarly journals Barriers in adult vitamin D service provision by health care workers: a qualitative study in three ecologies of Ethiopia

BMC Nutrition ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wubegzier Mekonnen ◽  
Yeweyenhareg Feleke ◽  
Wubetsh Asnake ◽  
Yakob Desalegn ◽  
Jemal Haidar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Education System ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background Adult vitamin D deficiency, which is a public health problem in low-income countries, is correlated with increased mortality. Although health care workers (HCWs) in Ethiopia are educated on important minerals their counseling on the uses of vitamin D and its possible sources was not witnessed since their knowledge and practice is low. The main aim of this study is to explore barriers to good knowledge, positive attitude, and practice of health care providers on adult vitamin D. Methods An exploratory qualitative study is done in three ecologies covering highland, midland, and lowland. The size of 27 participants was fixed by saturation of ideas. In-depth interviews were conducted among leaders and HCWs of different professional groups in health centers and hospitals. Moderators were Ph.D. holders. An interview guide was developed after reviewing research that was translated into the local language. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and, translated. Open Code software was used to code and categorize the data. Themes were developed using thematic analysis which is presented using themes and sub-themes. Result The main barriers are related to health systems, HCWs’ understandings, and the educational system. Lack of attention by the health systems’ leadership, missing adult vitamin D as a priority in health programs, lack of capacity building scheme and the absence of adult vitamin D management and treatment guidelines are barriers related to the health system. On the other hand, health care professionals believed that the prevalence of adult vitamin D deficiency is insignificant and vitamin D deficiency is only an issue related to children. Besides, the absence of studies,the focus of the medical curriculum on child vitamin D and the inadequacy of laboratory investigation are barriers related to the education system and research. Conclusion Adult vitamin D deficiency is a neglected public health problem with many barriers related to diagnosis and treatment. Barriers are related to the professionals themselves, their leadership, health facilities, and the education system. The government should give attention to adult vitamin D management and treatment, continuous on the job training, development of guidelines, purchase of laboratory equipment, the inclusion of adult vitamin D in pre-service and, in-service training curriculums.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document