Aim: Vitamin D (VitD) is involved in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, bone health, and normal functioning of the immune system. VitD status is monitored using serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) as a biomarker. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations below 30 nmol/L indicate VitD deficiency and below 50 nmol/L indicate insufficiency. VitD can be synthesised endogenously in human skin when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. In the absence of sufficient UVB-light exposure, VitD intake becomes the main source of VitD, with a recommended daily intake of 20 μg. The aim of this study was to conduct a review and meta-analysis on the abovementioned topics, focusing on scientific studies in various Slovenian populations.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published scientific papers, academic theses, or conference contributions reporting serum 25(OH)D status and VitD intake across various Slovenian populations. A search was carried out using Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, and the Slovenian library database.
Results: We identified 43 pertinent studies that addressed 25(OH)D status and 16 that addressed VitD intake. Serum 25(OH)D status was generally low across all populations, and notable seasonal variability was observed. VitD intakes were below 5 μg in all studies.
Conclusions: A general observation is that various population groups across Slovenia are at high risk of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, particularly during wintertime. Regarding vitamin D intake, all included studies reported daily intakes below the recommended level. We also identified key research gaps that need to be addressed to support further public health decision-making.
Namen: Vitamin D (VitD) je vključen v metabolizem kalcija in fosforja, zdravje kosti in normalno delovanje imunskega sistema, hkrati pa je nezadostna preskrbljenost povezana z različnimi skeletnimi in neskeletnimi obolenji. Splošno uveljavljen biološki kazalnik preskrbljenosti z VitD je serumska koncentracija 25 hidroksi-vitamina D (25(OH)D). Koncentracije 20(OH)D pod 30 nmol/L so definirane kot hudo pomanjkanje, pod 50 nmol/L kot pomanjkanje, optimalna pa je koncentracija nad 75 nmol/L. VitD se endogeno sintetizira v koži ob izpostavitvi ultravijoličnim B (UVB) žarkom. Kadar je izpostavljenost UVB žarkom prenizka, postane vnos s hrano glavni vir VitD. V odsotnosti endogene sinteze je priporočen vnos VitD 20 μg dnevno. Namen raziskave je bil sistematičen pregled znanstvene literature na področju preskrbljenosti s 25(OH)D in prehranskega vnosa VitD pri prebivalcih Slovenije.
Metode: Izvedli smo sistematičen pregled literature in metaanalizo znanstvenih člankov, zaključnih del in konferenčnih prispevkov, ki so poročali o preskrbljenosti s 25(OH)D in vnosu VitD pri različnih populacijskih skupinah prebivalcev Slovenije. Za iskanje literature smo uporabili podatkovne baze: Web of Science, Medline in Kooperativni online bibliografski sistemi in servisi (COBISS) brez omejevanja leta objave.
Rezultati: O preskrbljenosti s 25(OH)D je poročalo 43 znanstvenih prispevkov, medtem ko je o vnosu VitD poročalo 16 znanstvenih prispevkov. Preskrbljenost s 25(OH)D je bila relativno nizka v vseh zajetih populacijah, opaženo je bilo tudi znatno sezonsko nihanje. Vnos VitD je bil v vseh populacijah pod 5 μg.
Zaključki: Preskrbljenost s 25(OH)D je nizka, zato so mnogi prebivalci izpostavljeni povečanemu tveganju za (hudo) pomanjkanje, posebno v zimskem obdobju. Prav tako opažamo, da je prehranski vnos VitD precej nižji od priporočenega. Identificirane so bile tudi pomembne vrzeli, ki jih je treba nasloviti za sprejemanje na dokazih temelječih javnozdravstvenih ukrepov, ki bodo učinkoviteje podpirali zdravje prebivalcev Slovenije.
Keywords: Slovenia; dietary intake; serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D; systematic reviews; vitamin D; vitamin D deficiency.
© 2022 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo.