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Vitamin D status among indigenous Mayan ( Kekchi ) and Afro-Caribe ( Garifuna ) adolescents from Guatemala: a comparative description between two ethnic groups residing on the Rio Dulce at the Caribbean coast in Izabal Province, Guatemala

2016; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 20; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s1368980016000598

1475-2727

Ali Jafar Naqvi, Noel W. Solomons, Raquel Campos, María José Soto‐Méndez, Emily Caplan, Laura Armas, Odilia I. Bermúdez,

Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research

Abstract Objective To assess vitamin D status and the influence of risk factors such as skin pigmentation and time spent outdoors on hypovitaminosis D among Guatemalan Kekchi and Garifuna adolescents. Design Cross-sectional study, with convenient sampling design. Blood samples, anthropometric and behavioural data were all collected during the dry season. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were measured by RIA. Setting Communities of Rio Dulce and Livingston, Izabal Province, Caribbean coast of Guatemala, with latitude and longitude of 15°49′N and 88°45′W for Livingston and 15°46′N and 88°49′W for Rio Dulce, respectively. Subjects Eighty-six adolescents, divided evenly by sex and ethnicity, with mean age of 14 years. Results Mean ( sd ) 25(OH)D value was 27·8 (7·2) ng/ml for the total group, with 25·8 (5·9) and 29·8 (7·9) ng/ml, respectively, in Kekchis and Garifunas ( P =0·01). Use of vitamin D supplementation, clothing practices and sun protection were not statistically different between groups. Skin area exposed on the day of data collection ranged from 20·0 % minimum to 49·4 % maximum, with mean ( sd ) exposure of 32·0 (8.5) %. With univariate regression analysis, age ( P =0·034), sex ( P =0·044), ethnicity ( P =0·010), time spent outdoors ( P =0·006) and percentage skin area exposed ( P =0·001) were predictive. However, multivariate analysis indicated that only sex ( P =0·034) and percentage skin area exposed ( P =0·044) remained as predictors of 25(OH)D. Conclusions Despite residing in an optimal geographic location for sunlight exposure, nearly 65 % of study adolescents were either insufficient or deficient in vitamin D. Correction and long-term prevention of this nutritional problem may be instrumental in avoiding adverse effects in adulthood attributed to low 25(OH)D during adolescence.