Vitamin D status in the Chinese population in the Netherlands: The DRAGON study.

Abstract Introduction Vitamin D is essential for bone health since it stimulates the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the gut, both necessary for bone mineralization. However, vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among several non-Western immigrant populations in the Netherlands. To date, there are no data available of the vitamin D status in the Chinese population residing in the Netherlands. Therefore, an observational study was performed to determine 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and to assess potential determinants of low vitamin D status. Methods Subjects, aged 18 years and older, with a Chinese background and residing in the Netherlands were invited to participate in the study. A questionnaire was used to assess general characteristics and lifestyle habits. Fasting blood samples were obtained in March 2014 to measure serum 25(OH)D concentration, and analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results 418 subjects participated in the study, 104 men and 314 women. The mean age for both men and women was 56 years. Serum 25(OH)D concentration p  = 0.008). The percentage of serum 25(OH)D concentration  Conclusions Within the Chinese population living in the Netherlands, serum 25(OH)D concentration was below 50 nmol/L in 68% of men and 53% of women. Use of vitamin D supplements by Chinese people in the Netherlands was highly protective against low 25(OH)D levels.