Nearly 40% of young Fnnish men are vitamin D deficient in the winter

A new Finnish study found out that nearly 40% of Finnish men aged 18.3-20.6 years were vitamin D
deficient in the winter of 2000, while in the previous summer only 0.9% of them was deficient. The
study also found a positive correlation between serum vitamin D level (25-OHD) and bone mineral
content. The study concludes that vitamin D deficiency is very common in Finnish young men in the
winter, and it may have detrimental effects on the acquisition of maximal peak bone mass.

Reference:

Valimaki VV, Alfthan H, Lehmuskallio E, Loyttyniemi E, Sahi T, Stenman UH, Suominen H, Valimaki MJ.
Vitamin d status as a determinant of peak bone mass in young finnish men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2004 Jan; 89(1): 76-80. PMID: 14715830 [PubMed - in process]
<URL:http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/1/76> <URL:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en-
trez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14715830&dopt=Abstract>

Abstract:

"Severe vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, but scarce data are available about the extent to
which vitamin D status determines the development of the peak bone mass in young adults. Our aim
was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency [serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25- OHD) less
than the lower limit of the reference range of 20-105 nmol/liter] and the relationship between
vitamin D status and peak bone mass among young Finnish men. A cross-sectional study of
determinants of peak bone mass with data on lifestyle factors collected retrospectively was
performed in 220 young men, aged 18.3-20.6 yr. One hundred and seventy men were recruits of the
Finnish Army, and 50 were men of similar age who had postponed their military service for
reasons not related to health. Bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and scan area were
measured in lumbar spine and upper femur by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Serum 25-OHD
concentrations were followed prospectively for 1 yr. In July 2000, only 0.9% of the men had
vitamin D deficiency, but 6 months later, in the winter, the respective percentage was 38.9%.
After adjusting for age, height, weight, exercise, smoking, calcium, and alcohol intake, there
existed a positive correlation between serum 25-OHD and bone mineral content at lumbar spine (P
= 0.057), femoral neck (P = 0.041), trochanter (P = 0.010), and total hip (P = 0.025). The
correlation coefficients for the bone mineral densities at the four measurement sites were
0.035, 0.061, 0.056, and 0.068, respectively. No correlation was found to scan area. We conclude
that vitamin D deficiency is very common in Finnish young men in the winter, and it may have
detrimental effects on the acquisition of maximal peak bone mass. As in Finland vitamin D
supplementation to infants is now stopped at the age of 3 yr, it can be asked whether at our
latitude it should be continued from that age onward, not for the prevention of rickets, but as
prophylaxis for osteoporosis."

--
Matti Narkia

Sun, 18 Jan 2004 19:02:24 +0200 in article
<4cel00dufahl80fj91ggmnlkha9lcm57ck@4ax.com> Matti Narkia <mnng@despammed.com>
wrote:

>A new Finnish study found out that nearly 40% of Finnish men aged 18.3-20.6 years were vitamin D
>deficient in the winter of 2000, while in the previous summer only 0.9% of them was deficient.

Actually the deficiency seems to have been measured around January 2001, i.e. during the winter
2000-2001.

--
Matti Narkia

Once upon a time, our fellow Matti Narkia rambled on about "Nearly 40% of young Fnnish men are
vitamin D deficient in the winter." Our champion De-Medicalizing in sci.med.nutrition retorts,
thusly ...

>A new Finnish study found out that nearly 40% of Finnish men aged 18.3-20.6 years were vitamin D
>deficient in the winter of 2000

So, much for the fish theory or are Finnish men victims of Wal-Mart and McDonalds?

On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 17:14:19 GMT, John 'the Man'
<DeMan@fBodybuilding.com> wrote:

>So, much for the fish theory or are Finnish men victims of Wal-Mart and McDonalds?

At least in northern Finland, lack of sun. Move up to the islands north of Canada and stay there
over winter. And it everything else than fish, like meats, vegetables etc. And lot of McDonald food.
(I don't remember seeing any Wal-Mart over here, but McDonalds are over the whole place, and
fattiness is increased at a ratio worse than any other diseases, at least in Norway. I think Matti
may comment on how fattiness increase in Finland.

Then you may realize the conditions in sun irradiation people up that north experience. And why vit
D is lacking.