Sun Exposure Behaviors and Vitamin D Status in Healthy Adults

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Department of Comminuty Nurition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D status is highly associated with behavioral factors such as sun exposure patterns. The present study aimed to determine sun exposure behaviors and vitamin D status among healthy adults in Shiraz, Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 201 healthy individuals aged 20-40 years were randomly selected from different areas of Shiraz, Iran. Demographic characteristics, vitamin D intake through diet or supplements, and sun exposure habits were assessed and also serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration was measured.
Results: The mean concentration of serum 25(OH)D was 21.43±9.2 ng/mL. There were no significant associations between 25(OH)D level and sun exposure habits except wearing long-sleeve shirts (p=0.010). However, in the participants who did not take vitamin D supplements, serum 25(OH)D level had a negative association with sunscreen use
(p=0.045), frequent use of sunscreen (p=0.045), and wearing long-sleeve shirts (p=0.023), and positive correlation with duration (p=0.045) and time of sun exposure (p=0.026) and the percentage of body surface area exposed to the sun (r=0.245, p=0.010).
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem among healthy young adults in Shiraz, Iran, and sun exposure habits can affect vitamin D status only among the participants who did not take vitamin D supplements.

Highlights

Malihe Karamizadeh (Google Scholar)

Marzieh Akbarzadeh (Google Scholar)

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