Vitamin D status worldwide

A recent umbrella review on vitamin D and multiple health outcomes has highlighted the connection between low vitamin D status and various adverse health conditions. 

The review suggested that individuals with insufficient vitamin D levels are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, schizophrenia, and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, low vitamin D status was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality.

Given the profound impact of vitamin D on individual health and quality of life, it is imperative to address vitamin D deficiency on a broader scale. Inadequate vitamin D levels can strain healthcare systems due to the associated health conditions, leading to increased economic burdens. Therefore, promoting sufficient vitamin D status at the population level is of paramount importance.

To effectively address vitamin D deficiency, governments and health organisations must have access to up-to-date data on vitamin D status within populations. Regular monitoring and assessment of vitamin D levels are essential to identify at-risk groups and implement targeted interventions. These efforts can help improve public health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs associated with vitamin D-related health conditions. 

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The last systematic review and meta-analysis of Vitamin D data collected globally was published in 2014, but a systematic review is currently underway on Vitamin D status in healthy populations worldwide. The review will be useful for governments, health organisations and researchers.

The protocol is available in the September issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis:

Vitamin D status in healthy populations worldwide: a systematic review protocol

Dunlop, Eleanor; Pham, Ngoc Minh; Van Hoang, Dong; Kalmpourtzidou, Aliki; Black, Lucinda J 

JBI Evidence Synthesis 21(9):p 1888-1895, September 2023. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-22-00354