The high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency across Australian populations is only partly explained by season and latitude.
van der Mei IAF., Ponsonby A-L., Engelsen O., Pasco JA., McGrath JJ., Eyles DW., Blizzard L., Dwyer T., Lucas R., Jones G.
BACKGROUND: Inadequate sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake can result in vitamin D insufficiency. However, limited data are available on actual vitamin D status and predictors in healthy individuals in different regions and by season. METHODS: We compared vitamin D status [25-hydroxyvitamin D; 25(OH)D] in people < 60 years of age using data from cross-sectional studies of three regions across Australia: southeast Queensland (27 degrees S; 167 females and 211 males), Geelong region (38 degrees S; 561 females), and Tasmania (43 degrees S; 432 females and 298 males). RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (