Taksler, Glen BCutler, DavidGiovannucci, EdwardKeating, Nancy2014-07-282014Taksler, Glen B, David M Cutler, Edward Giovannucci, and Nancy L Keating. 2014. Vitamin D Deficiency in Minority Populations.” Public Health Nutrition (April 15): 1–13.1368-9800http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:12585271Objective Black and Hispanic individuals synthesize less vitamin D per unit of sun exposure than white individuals. The relationship between UV radiation and vitamin D insufficiency in minorities has not been well explored. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we obtained serum vitamin D levels for non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks aged ≥18 years from 2000–2006. We linked these data with the average monthly solar UV index by census tract and data on sun exposure, vitamin D supplementation, health and demographics. We used multivariable regression analyses to assess vitamin D deficiency (<15 ng/ml) and insufficiency (<20 ng/ml) in January (when the UV index was lowest) by race/ethnicity and geography. Subjects Adults (n 14 319) aged ≥18 years. Results A 1-point increase in the UV index was associated with a 0·51 ng/ml increase in vitamin D (95 % CI 0·35, 0·67 ng/ml; P<0·001). Non-Hispanic Black race and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with a 7·47 and 3·41 ng/ml decrease in vitamin D, respectively (both P<0·001). In January, an estimated 65·4 % of non-Hispanic Blacks were deficient in vitamin D, compared with 28·9 % of Hispanics and 14·0 % of non-Hispanic Whites. An estimated 84·2 % of non-Hispanic Blacks were insufficient in vitamin D v. 56·3 % of Hispanics and 34·8 % of non-Hispanic Whites. More non-Hispanic Blacks were estimated to be deficient in vitamin D in January in the highest UV index quartile than were non-Hispanic Whites in the lowest UV index quartile (60·2 % v. 25·7 %). Conclusions Wintertime vitamin D insufficiency is pervasive among minority populations, and not uncommon among non-Hispanic Whites.en-USvitaminsVitamin DdisparitiesracesurvivalJournal Article2014-07-2410.1017/S1368980014000457