Skin Color and Self-reported Sun Exposure Scores are Associated with Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in a Multi-ethnic Population Living in South Florida.

ABSTRACT

Aims: The aim was to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], skin color and sun exposure score. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study Florida International University, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Miami, Florida from July 2012 to October 2012. Methodology: Seventy six adults, ages 18-36 years living in South Florida participated in the study. Skin color was quantified by a IMS Smart Probe 400 scanner and 25(OH)D was measured by ELISA. A sun exposure questionnaire was used to record the weekly sun exposure scores. A food frequency questionnaire was used to record daily vitamin D intake. Results: Multiple-linear regression analysis indicated that sun exposure, forearm skin color and vitamin D intake were significant predictors of 25(OH)D (P=.004, P=.003 and P=.021 respectively). This association held after controlling for covariates (B=.371, P=.027 for forearm, B=.031, P=.005 for total sun exposure and B=.689, P=.003 for vitamin D intake). Conclusion: Skin color, sun exposure along with vitamin D intake may be used as an indirect non-invasive tools to estimate 25(OH)D levels in healthy individuals in South Florida.