Roman Byst
Wed, Apr-27-05, 06:16
http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.php?event=news_print_list_-
item&id=765
Bae Keun-min, "Korean Women Suffer From Serious Vitamin D
Deficiency", Korea Times, April 26, 2005, Link: http://times.-
hankooki.com/lpage/200504/kt2005042616360410220.htm
South Korean women are seriously deficient in vitamin D,
making them more likely to suffer from osteoporosis.
In a joint study with doctors in Britain, France and Hungary,
endocrinologist Lim Sung-kil at Severance Hospital said that
Korean females posted an average vitamin D level of 20.4
nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) in their blood, the lowest
among the 18 nations surveyed.
An optimum vitamin D level is known to be 30 ng/ml for women.
Some 88.2 percent of the Koreans in the survey failed to reach
the optimum level, the study said.
The study was conducted on 1,285 female osteoporosis patients
aged 55 years and older in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
``Despite the fact that the survey was conducted between May
and October in 2004, when there is more sunshine with a
relatively longer daytime, Korean women showed the lowest
figures,'' Lim said. ``The results show that South Korean
women avoid sunlight too much to keep their skin fair.''
Lim said it is possible to absorb vitamin D through food.
However, sunbathing is the best way to supplement vitamin D in
the body, he added.
UV rays in sunlight trigger synthesis of vitamin D in the
skin. Food such as liver, mackerel, tuna and egg yolks
contains relatively large amounts of vitamin D.
Vitamin D maintains normal blood levels of calcium and
phosphorus, by promoting calcium absorption. Vitamin D helps
to form and maintain strong bones as it plays a significant
role in regulating cell growth and differentiation.
Of the surveyed 18 nations, women in only seven nations
presented the vitamin D level in the blood higher than the
suggested optimum level, such as Sweden, the Netherlands,
Switzerland, Hungary, Thailand, Malaysia and Brazil.
Sweden marked the highest level of 35.1 ng/ml, followed by the
Netherlands (32.6 ng/ml) and Switzerland (33.4 ng/ml).
Hungarian women in the survey had an average of 32.2 ng/ml of
vitamin D in their blood, while those in Thailand and Malaysia
had 32.7 ng/ml and
31.7 ng/ml, respectively. Brazilians had vitamin D levels of
36.7 ng/ml and Japanese had 22 ng/ml.
Latin America had the highest vitamin D level of 30.7 ng/ml,
followed by Europe with 30.6 ng/ml. Asia and the Middle East
trailed with levels of 26.6 ng/ml and 20.5 ng/ml,
respectively.
kenbae@koreatimes.co.kr
item&id=765
Bae Keun-min, "Korean Women Suffer From Serious Vitamin D
Deficiency", Korea Times, April 26, 2005, Link: http://times.-
hankooki.com/lpage/200504/kt2005042616360410220.htm
South Korean women are seriously deficient in vitamin D,
making them more likely to suffer from osteoporosis.
In a joint study with doctors in Britain, France and Hungary,
endocrinologist Lim Sung-kil at Severance Hospital said that
Korean females posted an average vitamin D level of 20.4
nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) in their blood, the lowest
among the 18 nations surveyed.
An optimum vitamin D level is known to be 30 ng/ml for women.
Some 88.2 percent of the Koreans in the survey failed to reach
the optimum level, the study said.
The study was conducted on 1,285 female osteoporosis patients
aged 55 years and older in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
``Despite the fact that the survey was conducted between May
and October in 2004, when there is more sunshine with a
relatively longer daytime, Korean women showed the lowest
figures,'' Lim said. ``The results show that South Korean
women avoid sunlight too much to keep their skin fair.''
Lim said it is possible to absorb vitamin D through food.
However, sunbathing is the best way to supplement vitamin D in
the body, he added.
UV rays in sunlight trigger synthesis of vitamin D in the
skin. Food such as liver, mackerel, tuna and egg yolks
contains relatively large amounts of vitamin D.
Vitamin D maintains normal blood levels of calcium and
phosphorus, by promoting calcium absorption. Vitamin D helps
to form and maintain strong bones as it plays a significant
role in regulating cell growth and differentiation.
Of the surveyed 18 nations, women in only seven nations
presented the vitamin D level in the blood higher than the
suggested optimum level, such as Sweden, the Netherlands,
Switzerland, Hungary, Thailand, Malaysia and Brazil.
Sweden marked the highest level of 35.1 ng/ml, followed by the
Netherlands (32.6 ng/ml) and Switzerland (33.4 ng/ml).
Hungarian women in the survey had an average of 32.2 ng/ml of
vitamin D in their blood, while those in Thailand and Malaysia
had 32.7 ng/ml and
31.7 ng/ml, respectively. Brazilians had vitamin D levels of
36.7 ng/ml and Japanese had 22 ng/ml.
Latin America had the highest vitamin D level of 30.7 ng/ml,
followed by Europe with 30.6 ng/ml. Asia and the Middle East
trailed with levels of 26.6 ng/ml and 20.5 ng/ml,
respectively.
kenbae@koreatimes.co.kr