Low vitamin D in dark-skinned immigrants is mainly due to clothing habits and low UVR exposure: a Danish observational study

Abstract

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D) among dark-pigmented persons has been observed. To elucidate the reason for this we examined sun behaviour, sun-exposed body area, solar UVR exposure and 25(OH)D levels in immigrants with dark pigmented skin and Danes with light pigmented skin. Clothing, sun behaviour, and diet were recorded daily during a Danish summer season (93 analysed days). Erythema-weighted UVR doses were measured by personal electronic UVR dosimeters (with erythema response, measurement every 5th second) and 25(OH)D was measured in 72 participants (33 dark-skinned and 39 light-skinned). The immigrants exposed 28% less skin area, received 70% less UVR dose, and had 71% less 25(OH)D increase during the summer. The UVR reactivity (Δ25(OH)D per joule accumulated UVR dose) was similar (P = 0.62) among the immigrants (0.53 nmol l-1 J-1) and the Danes (0.63 nmol l-1 J-1). In the groups combined, 25(OH)D levels after summer were mainly influenced by UVR dose to exposed skin (28.8%) and 25(OH)D start level (27.9%). Height and measured constitutive skin pigmentation were of minor influence: 3.5% and 3.2%, respectively. Sun exposure and clothing habits were the main reasons for lower 25(OH)D level after summer in the darker immigrants, as both groups had similar UVR reactivity.