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What Do People Know and Believe about Vitamin D?

ABSTRACT: People have been exposed to a lot of information regarding vitamin D, with evidence suggesting that vitamin D may be involved in numerous health conditions, subsequently creating concerns about vitamin D insufficiency. As a result, what do people really know or believe about this topic? In this cross-sectional study, we assessed vitamin D-related knowledge and beliefs in 59,273 French adults (NutriNet-Santé cohort) using a specific questionnaire. Answers to this questionnaire were weighted according to the French sociodemographic distribution and compared across individual characteristics, using ?²-tests. Physicians and media were identified as key information providers. Participants did not always accurately cite vitamin D sources (e.g., 72% only for sun exposure, fatty fish: 61%) or established health effects (e.g., bone health: 62%-78%). Conversely, they mentioned incorrect sources and health effects for which there is no consensus yet (e.g., skin cancer). These findings were modulated by age/generational and socioeconomic factors. A strong inconsistency was also observed between participants' true vitamin D status (plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration) and their opinion about it. This study, the first in Europe with such a large sample, stresses the need for simple and up-to-date supports of communication for the public and healthcare professionals regarding sources and health effects of vitamin D.

SUBMITTER: Deschasaux M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5133104 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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What Do People Know and Believe about Vitamin D?

Deschasaux Mélanie M Souberbielle Jean-Claude JC Partula Valentin V Lécuyer Lucie L Gonzalez Rebeca R Srour Bernard B Guinot Christiane C Malvy Denis D Latino-Martel Paule P Druesne-Pecollo Nathalie N Galan Pilar P Hercberg Serge S Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle E Fassier Philippine P Ezzedine Khaled K Touvier Mathilde M

Nutrients 20161111 11

People have been exposed to a lot of information regarding vitamin D, with evidence suggesting that vitamin D may be involved in numerous health conditions, subsequently creating concerns about vitamin D insufficiency. As a result, what do people really know or believe about this topic? In this cross-sectional study, we assessed vitamin D-related knowledge and beliefs in 59,273 French adults (NutriNet-Santé cohort) using a specific questionnaire. Answers to this questionnaire were weighted accor ...[more]

PMID: 27845705

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Project description:Vitamin D plays an essential role in regulating calcium and phosphate metabolism and maintaining a healthy mineralized skeleton. Humans obtain vitamin D from sunlight exposure, dietary foods and supplements. There are two forms of vitamin D: vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. Vitamin D3 is synthesized endogenously in the skin and found naturally in oily fish and cod liver oil. Vitamin D2 is synthesized from ergosterol and found in yeast and mushrooms. Once vitamin D enters the circulation it is converted by 25-hydroxylase in the liver to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], which is further converted by the 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1?-hydroxylase in the kidneys to the active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]. 1,25(OH)2D binds to its nuclear vitamin D receptor to exert its physiologic functions. These functions include: promotion of intestinal calcium and phosphate absorption, renal tubular calcium reabsorption, and calcium mobilization from bone. The Endocrine Society's Clinical Practice Guideline defines vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency as serum concentrations of 25(OH)D of <20?ng/mL, 21-29?ng/mL, and 30-100?ng/mL, respectively. Vitamin D deficiency is a major global public health problem in all age groups. It is estimated that 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. This pandemic of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is attributed to a modern lifestyle and environmental factors that restrict sunlight exposure, which is essential for endogenous synthesis of vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause of rickets and osteomalacia, and can exacerbate osteoporosis. It is also associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain, muscle weakness, and an increased risk of falling. In addition, several observational studies observed the association between robust levels of serum 25(OH)D in the range of 40-60?ng/mL with decreased mortality and risk of development of several types of chronic diseases. Therefore, vitamin D-deficient patients should be treated with vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 supplementation to achieve an optimal level of serum 25(OH)D. Screening of vitamin D deficiency by measuring serum 25(OH)D is recommended in individuals at risk such as patients with diseases affecting vitamin D metabolism and absorption, osteoporosis, and older adults with a history of falls or nontraumatic fracture. It is important to know if a laboratory assay measures total 25(OH)D or only 25(OH)D3. Using assays that measure only 25(OH)D3 could underestimate total levels of 25(OH)D and may mislead physicians who treat patients with vitamin D2 supplementation.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Warfarin is a well-established agent for use in the prevention of stroke or systemic embolic event (SEE) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, management of patients requiring oral anticoagulation with warfarin can be complicated by the need for frequent monitoring, drug-drug and drug-food interactions, and a variable response based on genetic polymorphisms. The non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were developed as alternatives to warfarin; they do not require routine monitoring and have predictable pharmacokinetics, fewer drug-drug interactions, and limited drug-food interactions. Four NOACs-dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban-have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of stroke or SEE in NVAF and for the treatment of VTE. Selecting the most appropriate agent for each patient should be done in consideration of patient preferences and characteristics, including renal function, bleeding risk, and the need for other medications. METHODS:A search was performed on the terms atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism with individual terms dabigatran, apixaban, edoxaban, or rivaroxaban to identify relevant manuscripts; large randomized clinical trials, metaanalyses, and treatment guideline recommendations were given preference. Searches to identify registries, treatment guidelines, and metaanalyses relevant to specific subgroups were also used. RESULTS:NOACs are effective in reducing the risk of stroke or SEE in patients with NVAF and are associated with fewer incidents of intracranial bleeding vs warfarin. CONCLUSION:NOACs provide a convenient and safe alternative to warfarin and may result in improved therapeutic outcomes for patients with NVAF or VTE. The use of NOACs in other indications and patient populations is under investigation, and clinical trials investigating their use in acute coronary syndrome, medically ill patients, percutaneous coronary intervention, cardioversion, catheter ablation, coronary arterial disease, and heart failure have been announced.

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What Do People Know and Believe about Vitamin D?

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What Do People Know and Believe about Vitamin D?

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