Deficiency dilemma: South Korea in urgent need of vitamin D programme

By Cheryl Tay

- Last updated on GMT

South Korea is in dire need of fortification and public education programmes to combat its increasingly severe vitamin D deficiency problem. ©iStock
South Korea is in dire need of fortification and public education programmes to combat its increasingly severe vitamin D deficiency problem. ©iStock
South Korea is in dire need of fortification and public education programmes to combat its increasingly severe vitamin D deficiency problem, say researchers at Dongguk University.

South Korea is in dire need of fortification and public education programmes to combat its increasingly severe vitamin D deficiency problem, say researchers at Dongguk University.

While vitamin D deficiency has been getting more attention in many countries, no study so far has reported vitamin D status in Asia.

Researchers at Dongguk University conducted an observational study to explore vitamin D status in South Korea, based on a representative national database obtained from the 2008 — 2014 Korea National Health and Examination Surveys (KNHANES).

The final analyses included a total of 39,759 patients and measured their serum vitamin D levels using radioimmunoassay.

Worrying patterns

The researchers then reported that the overall mean serum level of vitamin D was 45.7nmol/L in men and 40.9nmol/L in women.

They also noted a ‘significant trend’ of declining serum vitamin D levels of -1.2nmol/L per year in men throughout the course of the survey. In women, the decline was recorded at -0.7nmol/L per year.

In 2008, the overall mean serum vitamin D level was 53nmol/L in men and 45.7nmol/L in women. By 2014, this had fallen to a respective 43.2nmol/L and 39.2nmol/L.

A significant increase in vitamin D deficiency was also noted. Vitamin D deficiency, defined as a serum vitamin D level of below 50nmol/L, was reported in 65.7% of the male patients and 76.7% of the female patients in the overall study population.

These figures were considerably higher than in 2008, when 51.8% of male patients and 68.2% of female patient were vitamin D-deficient.

In 2014, the prevalence had risen to 75.2% and 82.5% respectively.

These patterns have persisted despite medical health professionals having issued warnings about the severity of vitamin D deficiency in the country.

One possible reason for this may be that vitamin D deficiency is seen as problem limited to developing countries​.

Indeed, the seriousness of vitamin D deficiency and proposed solutions to the problem have been discussed extensively in India​, Palestine​ and Pakistan​, but the issue has also taken root in China​, Hong Kong​ and more recently, South Korea.

What can be done?

The researchers wrote that the current study showed that vitamin D status among South Koreans was continuing to deteriorate, and as such, more extensive and proactive measures should be introduced to help improve vitamin D status in South Korea.

They added that a population-based approach, such as fortification of foods consumed widely by Asians, could serve as a simple yet effective strategy,

However, any such programme would need to match the diversity of dietary culture, so each population would need a programme suited to its tastes.

Government support would also be necessary to help successfully implement the programme.

In conclusion, they wrote: “The present study suggests that mean serum 25 (OH)D level is decreasing and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is growing in South Korea.

“Therefore, it is a critical public health issue to improve vitamin D status. A comprehensive campaign and education to raise public awareness of health benefits of vitamin D is necessary.

“There is also a need to develop a vitamin D fortification programme that suits the South Korean population. Vitamin D supplementation or lifestyle modification to increase outdoor activities can be recommended as a useful strategy, for those at risk for vitamin D deficiency.”

 

Source: Medicine

http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000011032

“Vitamin D status in South Korean population: Seven-year trend from the KNHANES”

Authors: Ju-Hyun Park, et al.

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