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Vitamin D fortification as public health policy: significant improvement in vitamin D status in young Finnish men

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 1035–1038 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

Vitamin D insufficiency is common in northern countries during wintertime. In Finland, after the recommendation by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, vitamin D has been added to liquid milk products and margarines from February 2003.

Objective:

We determined the effects of national policy on vitamin D fortification on vitamin D status among young Finnish men.

Design:

A comparison before and after intervention with study population of 196 young Finnish men (18–28 years) was carried out. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) concentrations were determined with the OCTEIA® enzymeimmunoassay by IDS (Immunodiagnostic Systems Limited, Bolden, UK) in January 2003 (n=96) and in January 2004 (n=100), nearly 1 year after national vitamin D fortification had started.

Results:

The mean serum 25-OHD3 concentrations during the wintertime increased by 50% after implementation of the vitamin D fortification of dairy products. Correspondingly, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25-OHD3 <40 nmol/l) was decreased by 50% from 78% in January 2003 to 35% in January 2004.

Conclusions:

Our results demonstrate that national vitamin D fortification substantially improved the vitamin D status of young Finnish men. Still, a third remained vitamin D insufficient.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the grants from Tampere University Hospital, Finland, and the Academy of Finland. We wish to thank Hilkka Mäkinen and Arja Ahola for excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    I T Laaksi & T J Ylikomi

  2. Garrison Hospital, Pori Brigade, Finnish Defence Forces, Säkylä, Finland

    J-P S Ruohola

  3. Department of clinical chemistry, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    T J Ylikomi & P J Tuohimaa

  4. Department of Epidemiology, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    A Auvinen

  5. Department of Biometrics, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    R I Haataja

  6. Department of Medical Services, Defence Staff, Finnish Defence Forces, Helsinki, Finland

    H K Pihlajamäki

  7. Institute of Military Medicine, Central Military Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    H K Pihlajamäki

  8. Department of anatomy, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    P J Tuohimaa

Authors
  1. I T Laaksi
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  2. J-P S Ruohola
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  5. R I Haataja
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  7. P J Tuohimaa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to I T Laaksi.

Additional information

Guarantor: IT Laaksi.

Contributors: ITL and J-PSR were involved in designing the study and collected and analysed the data. AA was involved in data analysis and statistical analysis. RIH was involved in statistical analysis. TJY, HKP and PJT were involved in study design and data analysis. ITL wrote the first draft of the paper and all authors contributed to the final draft.

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Laaksi, I., Ruohola, JP., Ylikomi, T. et al. Vitamin D fortification as public health policy: significant improvement in vitamin D status in young Finnish men. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 1035–1038 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602414

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