American Journal of Epidemiology
American Journal of Epidemiology
4 years ago

Measurement of Vitamin D for Epidemiologic and Clinical Research: Shining Light on a Complex Decision.

Lutsey, Hoofnagle, Jukic
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is synthesized in the skin with exposure to sunlight, or ingested from dietary supplements or food. There has been a dramatic increase in research on vitamin D, linking it with health outcomes as varied as reproductive function, infection, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Vitamin D has generated much excitement, in part because it is an ideal intervention: low levels may be common and can be remedied with widely-available supplements. Determination of vitamin D status is complex, and has advanced dramatically in the past five years. In this paper, we begin by describing important considerations for measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the biomarker traditionally assessed in epidemiologic studies. While 25(OH)D remains the most commonly measured biomarker, emerging evidence suggests that other related analytes may contribute to the characterization of an individual's vitamin D status (e.g. vitamin D binding protein, bioavailable and free 25(OH)D, the C-3 epimer, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D). The measurement of these analytes is also complex, and there are important considerations for deciding whether their measurement is warranted in new research studies. Herein we discuss these issues and provide the reader with an up-to-date synthesis of vitamin D measurement options and considerations.

Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwx297

DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwx297

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