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Low vitamin D in dark-skinned immigrants is mainly due to clothing habits and low UVR exposure: a Danish observational study

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Abstract

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D) among dark-pigmented persons has been observed. To elucidate the reason for this we examined sun behaviour, sun-exposed body area, solar UVR exposure and 25(OH)D levels in immigrants with dark pigmented skin and Danes with light pigmented skin. Clothing, sun behaviour, and diet were recorded daily during a Danish summer season (93 analysed days). Erythema-weighted UVR doses were measured by personal electronic UVR dosimeters (with erythema response, measurement every 5th second) and 25(OH)D was measured in 72 participants (33 dark-skinned and 39 light-skinned). The immigrants exposed 28% less skin area, received 70% less UVR dose, and had 71% less 25(OH)D increase during the summer. The UVR reactivity (Δ25(OH)D per joule accumulated UVR dose) was similar (P = 0.62) among the immigrants (0.53 nmol l−1 J−1) and the Danes (0.63 nmol l−1 J−1). In the groups combined, 25(OH)D levels after summer were mainly influenced by UVR dose to exposed skin (28.8%) and 25(OH)D start level (27.9%). Height and measured constitutive skin pigmentation were of minor influence: 3.5% and 3.2%, respectively. Sun exposure and clothing habits were the main reasons for lower 25(OH)D level after summer in the darker immigrants, as both groups had similar UVR reactivity.

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Data availability

Data sets analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants for taking part in this study and Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen for support and Jakob Heydenreich for instructions in preparing/handling the SunSavers and occasional assistance in downloading data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology D92, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Nielsine Nielsens Vej 17, 2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark

    Pameli Datta, Peter Alshede Philipsen, Luise Winkel Idorn & Hans Christian Wulf

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  1. Pameli Datta
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  2. Peter Alshede Philipsen
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  3. Luise Winkel Idorn
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Contributions

Conceptualization: HCW, PAP, PD; Material preparation and data collection: PD, LWI; Formal analysis and investigation: PD, PAP; Preparation of first draft of manuscript: PD, Editing manuscript: PD, HCW, PAP, LWI; Supervision: HCW, PAP. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Pameli Datta.

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Datta, P., Philipsen, P.A., Idorn, L.W. et al. Low vitamin D in dark-skinned immigrants is mainly due to clothing habits and low UVR exposure: a Danish observational study. Photochem Photobiol Sci 20, 1573–1584 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-021-00115-w

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