Research

Micronutrients & recovery

Global prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (serum 25(OH)D <30 nmol/L) is 15.7%, with significantly higher rates in high-latitude regions, winter-spring seasons, females, and lower-middle-income countries.

Vitamin D deficiency is a global issue affecting roughly 16% of adults, with higher risks in winter, at high latitudes, and for women. To mitigate this, prioritize Vitamin D supplementation or consumption of fortified foods, especially if you live in northern regions, wear covering clothing, or have limited sun exposure. Regular testing of serum 25(OH)D levels is recommended to ensure adequacy.

StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
We found that globally, 15.7% (95% CrI 13.7–17.8)... of participants had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels less than 30... nmol/l... people living in high latitude areas had a higher prevalence; the prevalence in winter-spring was 1.7 (95% CrI 1.4–2.0) times that in summer-autumn... females were vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency
Aiyong Cui et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2023

Why this rating

The study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of 308 studies involving 7.9 million participants, providing high statistical power and broad generalizability.

Source

Global and regional prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in population-based studies from 2000 to 2022: A pooled analysis of 7.9 million participants

Aiyong Cui et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2023

Meta-analysis · 308 studiesCited 381×
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