Quantifying vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia

Background/Objective: Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25 (OH) D concentration <50 nmol/L) is prevalent among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. Alternative to sun exposure (the primary source of vitamin D), vitamin D can also be obtained from food (e. g. , fish, eggs, and meat) and supplements. However, vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is currently unknown. We aimed to provide the first quantification of vitamin D intake using nationally representative data from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Methods: We used food consumption data collected in the 2012-2013 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (n = 4, 109) and vitamin D food composition data to quantify mean absolute vitamin D intake by sex, age group, and remoteness of location. Differences in mean vitamin D intake between sexes and between remoteness of location were assessed using the 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: The mean (standard deviation (SD) ) vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was 2. 9 (3. 0) g/day. Males had a statistically significantly higher mean (SD) 95% CI vitamin D intake (3. 2 (3. 1) 3. 0-3. 4 g/day) than females (2. 6 (2. 7) 2. 4-2. 7 g/day). There were no statistically significant differences between mean (SD) 95% CI vitamin D intake in non-remote (2. 9 (2. 2) 2. 7-3. 1 g/day) and remote areas (2. 8 (4. 8) 2. 6-3. 0 g/day). Conclusions: Vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is low. Food-based public health strategies could be developed to promote higher vitamin D intake among this population.