Mild vitamin D deficiency endemic in Tasmania

Mild vitamin D deficiency is endemic in Tasmania, with only young children having adequate levels, research suggests.

Using five cross-sectional studies of Tasmanians, researchers found even among adolescents and adults who reported the highest levels of sun exposure, 45% had serum 25(OH)D concentrations of ≤ 50nmol/L in winter.

“Vitamin D deficiency was uncommon among our sample of primary school children but increased substantially during the teenage years and seemed to remain high throughout the rest of life,” the researchers wrote in the Internal Medicine Journal.

“Just increasing exposure to the sun in winter and spring may not ensure vitamin D adequacy in Tasmania and also may not at other locations at similar latitude.”

Additional research has shown that various anti-epileptic drugs. (e.g. sodium valproate) and PCBs contribute to Vit D deficiency.

A recent peer reviewed paper (Yang et al1 ) reveals that background exposure to some organochlorine pesticides (e.g. DDT and metabolites) leads to Vit D deficiency in humans.

The article concludes that chemical exposure as a possible cause of Vit D deficiency should be evaluated in prospective and experimental studies. It also highlights the importance of Vit D in chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

TPEHN asks the Menzies Centre and Tasmanian Department of Public Health if it has considered these issues in Tasmania, and what action have they taken to determine chemical exposure in Tasmanians as a possible cause for low Vit D levels in Tasmanians? …

Dear Dr Taylor, Professors Venn and Taylor,

Recent papers, including those of Yang et al1 , show that various chemicals can lead to low Vit D levels. The Yang article concludes that chemical exposure as a possible cause of Vit D deficiency should be evaluated in prospective and experimental studies. It also highlights the importance of Vit D in chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
TPEHN asks the Menzies Centre and Tasmanian Department of Public Health if it has considered these issues in Tasmania, and what action have they taken to determine chemical exposure in Tasmanians as a possible cause for low Vit D levels in Tasmanians?

Yours sincerely

Alison
Dr Alison Bleaney OBE
TPEHN and member of NTN

1 http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0030093