Hanwell HEC, Vieth R, Cole DEC, Scillitani A, Modoni S, Frusciante V, Ritrovato G, Chiodini I, Minisola S, Carnevale V. Sun exposure questionnaire predicts circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Caucasian hospital workers in southern Italy.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2010;
121:334-7. [PMID:
20298782 DOI:
10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.03.023]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2009] [Revised: 03/05/2010] [Accepted: 03/08/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Recent sun exposure should correlate with circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] due to ultraviolet B (UVB)-catalyzed cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D.
METHODS
A Sun Exposure Score was calculated for healthy adults using a recall questionnaire assessing daily Time in Sun (<5 min, 5-30 min, >30 min) and Skin Exposure (face/hands; face/hands and arms; face/hands and legs; and "bathing suit") for 1 week in each of the winter and summer (n=47 and 23, respectively; n=18 participated in both). Concentrations of 25(OH)D were measured by DiaSorin RIA on end-of-week sera.
RESULTS
Mean serum 25(OH)D was higher in summer than winter (58.6+/-16.5 nmol/L vs. 38.8+/-29.0 nmol/L, respectively, P=0.003 unpaired). The calculated Sun Exposure Score correlated strongly with serum 25(OH)D during summer (Spearman's rho=0.59, P=0.003); based on the Pearson coefficient of determination, summer Sun Exposure Score explained 38% of the variability in summer serum 25(OH)D. The Sun Exposure Score did not correlate with 25(OH)D in the winter (rho=0.19, P=0.210). The summer correlation was largely explained by the Time in Sun (rho=0.58, P=0.004) rather than area of Skin Exposed (rho=0.10, P=0.660). Although there was a correlation between winter and summer Sun Exposure Scores (rho=0.63, P=0.005), there was no summer vs. winter correlation in serum 25(OH)D (rho=0.08, P=0.76).
CONCLUSION
This simple 1-week sun exposure recall questionnaire predicted summer serum 25(OH)D concentrations, accounting for 38% of the variability in 25(OH)D among healthy Italian adults.
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