Vitamin D deficiency is an “unreal pandemic” and there is a solution

A study by the Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón) at the Lozano Blesa Clinical Hospital with direct and indirect methods indicates that the cut-off value should be updated to 12 ng/ml

Spain has proven, in a recent article on the vitamin D reference values, to have some levels above 12 ng/mL in healthy population "It is more than enough". In this way, the report reflects that the supposed 'pandemic' due to vitamin D deficiency is due to "unjustifiably high" cut-off values ​​that must be modified and confirms that "This is not a true pandemic".

Numerous studies report vitamin D (25-OH-D) deficiency, although there is no consensus among scientific societies about cut-off points and reference intervals. The objective of this study 'Direct and indirect reference intervals of 25-hydroxyvitamin D: this is not a true pandemic due to vitamin D deficiency', carried out by the Department of Clinical Biochemistry of the Lozano Blesa University Hospital of Zaragoza and by the Aragon Health Research Institute, is to establish and compare these intervals for serum 25-OH-D using both direct and indirect methods.

«After this study, a significant difference was observed in the median values ​​of 25-OH-D between the two methods. Calculating the reference interval according to the area studied can be a useful tool to adapt the cut-off points for 25-OH-D deficiency. Our data supports that 25-OH-D values ​​greater than 12,0 ng/ml for the healthy population are sufficientlarvae, nymphs, and adults, so current recommendations need to be updated. In addition, differences in seasonality must be taken into account," the report concludes.

The 'unreal' pandemic due to vitamin D deficiency

Several studies have investigated vitamin D deficiency around the world and they all agree on the existence of vitamin D hypovitaminosis, "even considering it a pandemic." However, other authors suggest, as stated in the report, that the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in healthy populations is “artificially” created by “unjustifiably high” 25-OH-D cutoff values be rich.

«In this sense, the current cut-off point for deficiency or insufficiency of serum 25-OH-D concentrations should be updated to 12,0 ng/ml. This change would be in line with our data, which, although still lower, show a trend closer to this new cut-off point. If this cut-off point were updated, cases of vitamin D insufficiency would decrease and they would probably stop being considered a pandemic,” they comment.

Supporting this claim, the study adds that dark-skinned people "have serum vitamin D concentrations that are 30 percent to 40 percent lower than Caucasians," but have equal or higher bone mineral density and a lower risk of fractures. 'Other authors go further and state that, due to its wide variability, it is not appropriate to use a fixed reference range for serum 25-OH-D. They propose a equation including UVB, ethnicity, body mass index, age, sex and dosage of vitamin D supplements"It remains to be seen whether this idea will prevail," they add.

In addition to physiological factors such as sex, age or skin color that can also affect the production of vitamin D, The absorption and bioavailability of vitamin D is affected by variations between summer and winter, malabsorption conditions, medication, sunscreen, smoking and obesity.

In conclusion, this study provides evidence on reference intervals for serum 25-OH-D using direct and indirect methodologies. «According to our data, current guidelines are too strict and the cut-off point of 12,0 ng/mL should be considered to avoid a non-real pandemic," they conclude.