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Constitutive melanin density is associated with higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D and potentially total body BMD in older Caucasian adults via increased sun tolerance and exposure

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Abstract

Summary

Greater skin pigmentation reduces dose equivalent cutaneous vitamin D3 production, potentially impacting lifetime vitamin D status and fracture risk. We show that melanin density was positively associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D and total body bone mineral density. These relationships were partially explained by greater sun exposure due to more permissive skin phenotype.

Introduction

Higher cutaneous melanin reduces vitamin D3 production. This may impact lifetime vitamin D status and increase fracture risk. This study aimed to describe the relationship between spectrophotometrically determined constitutive melanin density, osteoporotic risk factors and potential intermediaries in a cohort of exclusively older Caucasian adults.

Methods

One thousand seventy-two community-dwelling adults aged 50–80 years had constitutive melanin density quantified using spectrophotometry. Sun exposure, skin phenotype, non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) prevalence and smoking status were assessed by questionnaire. Bone mineral density (BMD), falls risk, physical activity and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured using DXA, the short form Physiological Profile Assessment, pedometer and radioimmunoassay, respectively.

Results

Higher melanin density was independently associated with greater ability to tan (RR = 1.27, p < 0.001), less propensity to sunburn (RR = 0.92, p < 0.001), fewer lifetime sunburns (RR = 0.94, p = 0.01), current smoking (RR = 1.41, p < 0.001), female sex (RR = 1.24, p < 0.001) and less photodamage (RR = 0.98, p = 0.01). The associations between melanin density and sun exposure (RR = 1.05–1.11, p < 0.001–0.01), sun protection behaviours (RR = 0.89, p < 0.001) and NMSC prevalence (RR = 0.75, p = 0.001) were no longer significant after taking into account skin phenotype and sun exposure, respectively. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D was strongly associated with higher melanin density (β = 1.71–2.05, p = 0.001). The association between melanin density and total body BMD (β = 0.007, p = 0.04) became non-significant after adjustment for 25-hydroxyvitamin D. There was no association between melanin density and physical activity, falls risk or BMD at other sites.

Conclusions

Our data support a model of higher constitutive melanin density underpinning a less photosensitive skin phenotype, permitting greater sun exposure with fewer sequelae and yielding higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D and, potentially, total body BMD.

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Acknowledgments

The TASOAC study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Tasmanian Community Fund, Masonic Centenary Medical Research Foundation, Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation, and Arthritis Foundation of Australia. No funding body played any role in the design of the study, the analysis of its data or the drafting of the current manuscript.

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  1. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia

    M.J.W. Thompson, G. Jones & D.A. Aitken

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  1. M.J.W. Thompson
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  2. G. Jones
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Correspondence to M.J.W. Thompson.

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Thompson, M., Jones, G. & Aitken, D. Constitutive melanin density is associated with higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D and potentially total body BMD in older Caucasian adults via increased sun tolerance and exposure. Osteoporos Int 29, 1887–1895 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-018-4568-8

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