TY - JOUR

T1 - Environmental and Occupation Factors Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Korean Adults

T2 - The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010-2014

AU - Park, Hye Yin

AU - Lim, Youn-Hee

AU - Park, Jae Bum

AU - Rhie, Jeongbae

AU - Lee, Soo-Jin

PY - 2020/12/8

Y1 - 2020/12/8

N2 - While exposure to sunlight is a well-documented primary source of vitamin D supply, factors leading to vitamin D deficiency vary according to population characteristics. Using nationwide data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), we aimed to investigate a diverse range of potential factors in association with vitamin D deficiency. Overall, 21,208 participants aged ≥20 years were selected from KNHANES conducted between 2010 and 2014. The associations between various environmental and occupational factors and vitamin D deficiency (defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] < 20 ng/mL) were evaluated in logistic regression models after controlling for potential covariates and also after stratification for age and sex. Under given criteria, 15,138 (71.4%) participants were vitamin D deficient. Significant associations were observed between vitamin D deficiency and average environmental temperature and radiation, weekly walking frequency, type of occupation, and shift work. When participants were stratified by age and sex, we observed greater associations of vitamin D deficiency with walking frequency among young males (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.24 [1.05-1.47] for those walking <5 times per week compared to those walking ≥5 times per week) and shift work (OR [95% CI]: 1.40 [1.10-1.78] for those working at night compared to those working during the day). We also observed a significant association of vitamin D deficiency with educational attainment (OR [95% CI]: 1.43 [1.09-1.89] for those with ≤middle school compared to those with ≥high school) among older group of females. This study suggests that vitamin D deficiency is related to geographical conditions and subpopulation characteristics. The age and sex-specific associations may urge the effective promotion of vitamin D supply recommendations.

AB - While exposure to sunlight is a well-documented primary source of vitamin D supply, factors leading to vitamin D deficiency vary according to population characteristics. Using nationwide data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), we aimed to investigate a diverse range of potential factors in association with vitamin D deficiency. Overall, 21,208 participants aged ≥20 years were selected from KNHANES conducted between 2010 and 2014. The associations between various environmental and occupational factors and vitamin D deficiency (defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] < 20 ng/mL) were evaluated in logistic regression models after controlling for potential covariates and also after stratification for age and sex. Under given criteria, 15,138 (71.4%) participants were vitamin D deficient. Significant associations were observed between vitamin D deficiency and average environmental temperature and radiation, weekly walking frequency, type of occupation, and shift work. When participants were stratified by age and sex, we observed greater associations of vitamin D deficiency with walking frequency among young males (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.24 [1.05-1.47] for those walking <5 times per week compared to those walking ≥5 times per week) and shift work (OR [95% CI]: 1.40 [1.10-1.78] for those working at night compared to those working during the day). We also observed a significant association of vitamin D deficiency with educational attainment (OR [95% CI]: 1.43 [1.09-1.89] for those with ≤middle school compared to those with ≥high school) among older group of females. This study suggests that vitamin D deficiency is related to geographical conditions and subpopulation characteristics. The age and sex-specific associations may urge the effective promotion of vitamin D supply recommendations.

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph17249166

DO - 10.3390/ijerph17249166

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33302471

VL - 17

JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

SN - 1661-7827

IS - 24

M1 - 9166

ER -