Skin Color and Self-reported Sun Exposure Scores are Associated with Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in a Multi-ethnic Population Living in South Florida

AIMS: The aim was to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], skin color and sun exposure score. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Florida International University, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Miami, Florida from July 2012 to October 2012. METHODOLOGY: Seventy six adults, ages 18–36 years living in South Florida participated in the study. Skin color was quantified by a IMS Smart Probe 400 scanner and 25(OH)D was measured by ELISA. A sun exposure questionnaire was used to record the weekly sun exposure scores. A food frequency questionnaire was used to record daily vitamin D intake. RESULTS: Multiple-linear regression analysis indicated that sun exposure, forearm skin color and vitamin D intake were significant predictors of 25(OH)D (P=.004, P=.003 and P=.021 respectively). This association held after controlling for covariates (B=.371, P=.027 for forearm, B=.031, P=.005 for total sun exposure and B=.689, P=.003 for vitamin D intake). CONCLUSION: Skin color, sun exposure along with vitamin D intake may be used as an indirect non-invasive tools to estimate 25(OH)D levels in healthy individuals in South Florida.