Abstract 2776: Correlates of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D among cancer free adults in the Cohort Consortium Vitamin D Pooling Project
Authors: McCullough Marjorie L. , Weinstein Stephanie J. , Freedman D. Michal , Helzlsouer Kathy , Flanders W. Dana , Albanes Demetrius , Ashby Jason , Chen Yu , Bertrand Kimberly , Gallicchio Lisa , Hankinson Susan , Hartge Patricia , Hartmuller Virginia W. , Harvey Nonye , Horst Ronald L. , Jacobs Eric J. , Kolonel Laurence , Laden Francine , Purdue Mark , Stolzenberg-Solomon Rachel , Yu Kai , Shu Xiao Ou ,   for the Vitamin D Pooling Project Investigators.
Published: February 2011

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are common globally. Because low circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations measured during adulthood have been associated with several disease outcomes, it is important to understand correlates of circulating 25(OH)D, especially in certain at-risk populations.

Methods: Circulating 25(OH)D was assayed in 4,723 adult men and women with no diagnosed cancer from ten cohorts in the United States, Finland and China participating in the Cohort Consortium Vitamin D Pooling Project of Rarer Cancers. Data on potential correlates were obtained and harmonized by a central data coordinating center. Serum/plasma samples were assayed for 25(OH)D at Heartland Assays, Inc. using the DiaSorin LIAISON 25(OH)D TOTAL assay, a direct, competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay. We used stepwise linear regression and polytomous logistic regression to identify demographic and lifestyle correlates of circulating 25(OH)D.

Results: Vitamin D deficiency (defined as &lt;25 nmol/L) ranged from 3-36% (overall 14.4%) and insufficiency (defined as &lt;50 nmol/L) ranged from 29-82% (overall 54.1%) across cohorts. Whites living in northern latitudes exhibited the largest seasonal differences in circulating 25(OH)D. Positive correlates of 25(OH)D in the overall population, controlled for cohort and age, included male sex, blood collection in the summer and fall season, greater levels of physical activity, alcohol consumption, greater dietary vitamin D intake, greater fish intake, and use of calcium and multivitamin supplements, whereas inverse correlates were black race, greater body mass index, history of diabetes, and cigarette smoking. Correlates varied within sex, season and racial strata. Female sex, black race, low dietary vitamin D intake, a body mass index of &gt;25 kg/m2, and low physical activity were associated with greater risk of vitamin D deficiency (&lt;25 nmol/L), whereas current multivitamin and calcium supplement use, and Asian race were associated with lower risk of deficiency.

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were common in this population. Multiple modifiable and non-modifiable factors were correlated with circulating 25(OH)D. These findings help identify individuals at risk for low vitamin D status, which may be useful for both clinical and research purposes.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2776.