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Review
. 2013 Nov-Dec;56(3):261-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2013.10.015.

The uncertain significance of low vitamin D levels in African descent populations: a review of the bone and cardiometabolic literature

Michelle Y O'Connor  1 , Caroline K Thoreson, Natalie L M Ramsey, Madia Ricks, Anne E Sumner
Affiliations
Review

The uncertain significance of low vitamin D levels in African descent populations: a review of the bone and cardiometabolic literature

Michelle Y O'Connor et al. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2013 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Vitamin D levels in people of African descent are often described as inadequate or deficient. Whether low vitamin D levels in people of African descent lead to compromised bone or cardiometabolic health is unknown. Clarity on this issue is essential because if clinically significant vitamin D deficiency is present, vitamin D supplementation is necessary. However, if vitamin D is metabolically sufficient, vitamin D supplementation could be wasteful of scarce resources and even harmful. In this review vitamin D physiology is described with a focus on issues specific to populations of African descent such as the influence of melanin on endogenous vitamin D production and lactose intolerance on the willingness of people to ingest vitamin D fortified foods. Then data on the relationship of vitamin D to bone and cardiometabolic health in people of African descent are evaluated.

Keywords: African Diaspora; African-Americans; Africans; BMD; FDA; Federal Drug Administration; IOM; Institute of Medicine; Lactose Intolerance; Melanin; NHANES; National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; PTH; UVB; VDR; Vitamin D; WHI-OS; Women's Health Initiative–Observational Study; bone mineral density; parathyroid hormone; ultraviolet B; vitamin D receptor.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Vitamin D pathway from precursors to active form.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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