Evidence of low vitamin D intakes in the Australian population points to a need for data‐driven nutrition policy for improving population vitamin D status
Eleanor Dunlop, Julie L. Boorman, Tracy Hambridge, Jessica McNeill, Anthony P. James, Máiréad Kiely, Caryl Nowson, Anna Rangan, Judy Cunningham, Paul Adorno, Paul Atyeo, Lucinda J. Black
Abstract
Abstract Background Nearly one in four Australian adults is vitamin D deficient (serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations [25(OH)D] < 50 nmol L –1 ) and current vitamin D intakes in the Australian population are unknown. Internationally, vitamin D intakes are commonly below recommendations, although estimates generally rely on food composition data that do not include 25(OH)D. We aimed to estimate usual vitamin D intakes in the Australian population. Methods Nationally representative food consumption data were collected for Australians aged ≥ 2 years ( n = 12,153) as part of the cross‐sectional 2011–2013 Australian Health Survey (AHS). New analytical vitamin D food composition data for vitamin D 3 , 25(OH)D 3 , vitamin D 2 and 25(OH)D 2 were mapped to foods and beverages that were commonly consumed by AHS participants. Usual vitamin D intakes (µg day –1 ) by sex and age group were estimated using the National Cancer Institute method. Results Assuming a 25(OH)D bioactivity factor of 1, mean daily intakes of vitamin D ranged between 1.84 and 3.25 µg day –1 . Compared to the estimated average requirement of 10 µg day –1 recommended by the Institute of Medicine, more than 95% of people had inadequate vitamin D intakes. We estimated that no participant exceeded the Institute of Medicine's Upper Level of Intake (63–100 µg day –1 , depending on age group). Conclusions Usual vitamin D intakes in Australia are low. This evidence, paired with the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Australia, suggests that data‐driven nutrition policy is required to safely increase dietary intakes of vitamin D and improve vitamin D status at the population level.