Does the High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in African Americans Contribute to Health Disparities?
Nutrients
; 13(2)2021 Feb 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1067767
ABSTRACT
African Americans have higher incidence of, and mortality from, many health-related problems than European Americans. They also have a 15 to 20-fold higher prevalence of severe vitamin D deficiency. Here we summarize evidence that (i) this health disparity is partly due to insufficient vitamin D production, caused by melanin in the skin blocking the UVB solar radiation necessary for its synthesis; (ii) the vitamin D insufficiency is exacerbated at high latitudes because of the combination of dark skin color with lower UVB radiation levels; and (iii) the health of individuals with dark skin can be markedly improved by correcting deficiency and achieving an optimal vitamin D status, as could be obtained by supplementation and/or fortification. Moderate-to-strong evidence exists that high 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and/or vitamin D supplementation reduces risk for many adverse health outcomes including all-cause mortality rate, adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, cancer, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, multiple sclerosis, acute respiratory tract infections, COVID-19, asthma exacerbations, rickets, and osteomalacia. We suggest that people with low vitamin D status, which would include most people with dark skin living at high latitudes, along with their health care provider, consider taking vitamin D3 supplements to raise serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels to 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) or possibly higher.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Vitamin D Deficiency
/
Cholecalciferol
/
Dietary Supplements
/
Health Status Disparities
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Traditional medicine
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Nu13020499
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