Quantifying vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia

Belinda Neo; Dale Tilbrook; Noel Nannup; Alison Daly; Eleanor Dunlop; John Jacky; Carol Michie; Cindy Prior; Brad Farrant; Carrington C. J. Shepherd; Anita S. Lawrence; Edoardo Tescari; Lucinda J. Black

doi:10.1038/s41430-025-01580-7

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Quantifying vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Quantifying vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia

Belinda Neo, Dale Tilbrook, Noel Nannup, Alison Daly, Eleanor Dunlop, John Jacky, Carol Michie, Cindy Prior, Brad Farrant, Carrington C. J. Shepherd, …

European journal of clinical nutrition, Vol.79(6), pp.529-535

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-025-01580-7

PMID: 39972212

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Abstract

Background/Objective Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration < 50 nmol/L) is prevalent among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. Alternative to sun exposure (the primary source of vitamin D), vitamin D can also be obtained from food (e.g. fish, eggs, and meat) and supplements. However, the vitamin D intake of this population group is unknown. We aimed to provide the first quantification of vitamin D intake using nationally representative data from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Methods We used food consumption data collected in the 2012–2013 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (n = 4109) and vitamin D food composition data to quantify vitamin D intake by sex, age group, and remoteness of location. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to assess the difference in vitamin D intake between sexes and remoteness of location. Results The median (25th, 75th percentile) vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged ≥ 2 years was 80 (45, 145) IU/day. Vitamin D intake was statistically significantly different between males and females (p = < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between vitamin D intake in non-remote and remote areas (p = 0.292). Conclusions Vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is low. Food-based public health strategies guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and communities could be developed to promote higher vitamin D intake among this population.

Details

Title: Quantifying vitamin D intake among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia
Authors/Creators: Belinda Neo - Curtin University
Dale Tilbrook - Tharawal Aboriginal
Noel Nannup - The University of Western Australia
Alison Daly - Curtin University
Eleanor Dunlop - Curtin University
John Jacky - The University of Western Australia
Carol Michie - Curtin University
Cindy Prior - The Kids Research Institute Australia
Brad Farrant - The Kids Research Institute Australia
Carrington C. J. Shepherd - Curtin University
Anita S. Lawrence - The University of Melbourne
Edoardo Tescari - The University of Melbourne
Lucinda J. Black - Deakin University
Publication Details: European journal of clinical nutrition, Vol.79(6), pp.529-535
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK
Number of pages: 7
Identifiers: 991005802448507891
Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025
Murdoch Affiliation: Ngangk Yira Institute for Change
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.80 Bone Diseases; 1.80.279 Vitamin D
Web Of Science research areas: Nutrition & Dietetics
ESI research areas: Clinical Medicine