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Nine out of 10 Aussies have low vitamin D intakes, Curtin study shows

Tuesday 29 March 2022 | By 286333f
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A new Āé¶¹Ö±²„ study has found 95 per cent of Australians have low vitamin D intakes, with researchers recommending food sources such as oily fish and eggs.

The study, published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, used new information on the vitamin D content of foods, produced by the research team, and dietary intake data collected from more than 12,000 Australians in the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.

Lead researcher dietitian and PhD student Eleanor Dunlop, from the Curtin School of Population Health, said the study suggests that Australians need data-driven nutrition policy to safely increase their intakes of vitamin D.

ā€œMost Australians consume less than half of international recommendations for vitamin D (10 µg/day). We can produce vitamin D through sun exposure, but we know that being SunSmartĀ® is vital in Australia to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer,ā€ Ms Dunlop said.

ā€œVitamin D deficiency increases the risk of poor bone health. Since nearly one in four adults are vitamin D deficient in Australia, carefully considered food-based strategies may safely increase intakes of vitamin D and improve vitamin D status in the Australian population.

ā€œAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote areas are particularly at risk of vitamin D deficiency, as well as people born outside of Australia or the main English-speaking countries. People residing in southern states of Australia, and people who are obese or have low physical activity levels, are also at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency.ā€

Senior author Associate Professor Lucinda Black, also from the Curtin School of Population Health, said that vitamin D intakes were lowest in younger people, with women more likely to have lower intakes than men.

ā€œIt can be difficult to consume enough vitamin D as few foods are rich in vitamin D. Oily fish is the best food source of vitamin D, with two serves a week recommended. Other foods such as eggs and meat contain small amounts, but we don’t find vitamin D in fruits, vegetables or grain-based products, like bread or rice.ā€ Associate Professor Black said.

Ms Dunlop and Associate Professor Black have recently compiled Australia’s first comprehensive database of vitamin D in foods.

ā€œThis is the first time we have had an estimate of usual vitamin D intakes in Australia that is based on comprehensive food composition data for the Australian population,ā€ Associate Professor Black said.

ā€œThe new data on the vitamin D content of foods have been adopted by Food Standards Australia New ZealandĀ for inclusion in the Australian Food Composition Database.ā€

This research was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

Ms Dunlop is currently undertaking a PhD supported by scholarships from the Australian Government Research Training Program and Graduate Women of Western Australia. Associate Professor Lucinda Black is supported by MS Western Australia (MSWA), a Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Postdoctoral Fellowship and a Āé¶¹Ö±²„ Research Fellowship.

The full paper, titled 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, is available online .