Variation in vitamin D supplementation among adults in a multi-race/ethnic health plan population, 2008

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D may have a role in many chronic conditions in addition to bone health. Nutritional surveys among Americans have reported high levels of vitamin D insufficiency, especially among Blacks and Latinos. Our study examined variation in vitamin D supplementation practices in an adult health plan population by age, gender, and race-ethnicity. METHODS: Self-report data from a 2008 general health survey in a large Northern California health plan were used to characterize number and types of sources of vitamin D supplementation (multivitamin, calcium with D, singular D) among women and men aged 25-85, overall, by race-ethnicity, and for obese, diabetic, and hypertensive subgroups. RESULTS: In this population, 40% of women and 54% of men 50 is associated with higher reported intake of calcium with D. Black and Latina women aged 25-85 and Filipinas in the

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