Environmental Influences on Vitamin D Status (Alaska/Hawaii)

Creighton University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Vitamin D Deficiency

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT00780247

Creighton6

WIRB approval 20080712

Details and patient eligibility

About

Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem. The principal source of vitamin D for humans is solar exposure, with cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D by photoconversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin to pre-vitamin D3. Latitude, altitude, season, skin pigmentation, and age are recognized factors that influence how much vitamin D can be made by solar exposure. However, the relative influences of each are largely unknown and we cannot reliably answer the question of how much sun exposure an individual needs at various latitudes and at various seasons in order to ensure normal vitamin D status.

Full description

Purpose of the study: To determine the effect of environmental influences on Vitamin D status.

Specific Aims

1. To measure the prevailing 25D and Vitamin D levels in communities at diverse latitudes (Alaska and Hawaii).
2. To collect information on variables that influence Vitamin D status such as skin color, history of sun exposure and sunscreen use, diet history, vitamin and calcium supplements used, and BMI.
3. To collect typical food samples from the region for future analysis of their Vitamin D and 25D content.
4. To collect a blood sample for DNA analysis of inter-individual differences in Vitamin D metabolism (Gc or Vitamin D binding protein alleles).

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Able to consent and come for a study visit. Male or female males and females ages 18-60.

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to consent or come to a visit, taking Vitamin D supplements, anticonvulsants, barbiturates, steroids, having granulomatous disease, or liver or kidney disease as these medications and conditions interfere with Vitamin D metabolism.

Trial design

50 participants in 2 patient groups

Alaska residents

Description:

50 "healthy" community dwelling males or females.

Hawaiian residents

Description:

50 "healthy" community dwelling males or females at each site