The D-VinCHI study: secondary analysis of vitamin D dietary intakes pre-2020 and post-2021.
E. Royle1, L.K. Pourshahidi1, E.M. McSorley1 and P.J. Magee1.
1Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Coleraine, UK.
Vitamin D is best known for its role in the prevention of rickets and osteomalacia and may have a protective role in non-communicable diseases (1). In the UK, low dietary intakes of vitamin D are evident in all age groups. Currently, 29-40% of children do not meet the reference nutrient intake of 10µg/day vitamin D from all dietary sources including from supplementation (2). The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the association between vitamin D and immune health in the popular media, this may have led to increased dietary intakes of vitamin D including from supplementation within the UK population.
This study aimed to explore the vitamin D dietary intakes in children before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. A secondary analysis of the D-VinCHI study (3) was undertaken to compare healthy children aged 4-11 years old who completed the study before the initial COVID-19 lockdown (pre-March 2020) and post-COVID-19 lockdown (post- July 2021). Daily vitamin D dietary intakes were assessed using a retrospective vitamin D food frequency questionnaire (4). Contribution of different food groups to vitamin D intakes were also quantified.
A total of 77 children were enrolled within the study between November 2019 and February 2022. The mean (± SD) age of participants was 8.12 (± 2.09) years and 45.5% were female. The mean (± SD) height and weight of participants were 133.36 (± 13.91) cm and 32.36 (± 11.79) kg respectively. The mean (± SD) body mass index (BMI) was 17.60 (± 3.19) kg/m2.  An average intake of 6.15 (± 5.01) µg/day vitamin D from all dietary sources including from supplements was reported from all participants. No significant difference was observed in mean vitamin D intakes (diet and supplements) pre-COVID (6.4 µg/day) when compared to that determined post lockdown (5.8 µg/day).  Regular vitamin D supplementation was taken in 20.8% of participants and contributed a mean (± SD) 7.3 (± 5.20) µg/day to total vitamin D intakes. In total 19.5% of participants met the reference nutrient intake of 10µg/day from all dietary sources including supplements.
The results of this secondary analysis show that dietary intakes of vitamin D have not increased from 2019-2022. The dietary intakes are still well below current government recommendations and suggests that further public health strategies are required to increase intake of vitamin D from all sources including (bio)fortified, dietary and supplementation. Implementing policies to target those at risk of low vitamin D dietary intakes may alleviate the disparities in health found in those with vitamin D deficiency.
References
1. Amrein K, Scherkl M, Hoffmann M, et al. (2020). Eur J Clin Nutr74 1498-1513.
2. Public Health England (2019) National Diet and Nutrition Survey [Available at gov.uk/government/statistics/ndns-results-from-years-9-11-2016-2017 and-2018-to-2019]
3. Glatt DU, McSorley E, Pourshahidi LK, et al. (2022). Nutrients 804.
4. Weir RR, Carson EL, Mulhern MS, et al (2016) JHum Nutr Diet 255-61

**The D-VinCHI study: secondary analysis of vitamin D dietary intakes pre-2020 and post-2021.**
E. Royle1, L.K. Pourshahidi1, E.M. McSorley1 and P.J. Magee1.
_1Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Coleraine, UK._
Vitamin D is best known for its role in the prevention of rickets and osteomalacia and may have a protective role in non-communicable diseases (1). In the UK, low dietary intakes of vitamin D are evident in all age groups. Currently, 29-40% of children do not meet the reference nutrient intake of 10µg/day vitamin D from all dietary sources including from supplementation (2). The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the association between vitamin D and immune health in the popular media, this may have led to increased dietary intakes of vitamin D including from supplementation within the UK population.
This study aimed to explore the vitamin D dietary intakes in children before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. A secondary analysis of the D-VinCHI study (3) was undertaken to compare healthy children aged 4-11 years old who completed the study before the initial COVID-19 lockdown (pre-March 2020) and post-COVID-19 lockdown (post- July 2021). Daily vitamin D dietary intakes were assessed using a retrospective vitamin D food frequency questionnaire (4). Contribution of different food groups to vitamin D intakes were also quantified.
A total of 77 children were enrolled within the study between November 2019 and February 2022. The mean (± SD) age of participants was 8.12 (± 2.09) years and 45.5% were female. The mean (± SD) height and weight of participants were 133.36 (± 13.91) cm and 32.36 (± 11.79) kg respectively. The mean (± SD) body mass index (BMI) was 17.60 (± 3.19) kg/m2.  An average intake of 6.15 (± 5.01) µg/day vitamin D from all dietary sources including from supplements was reported from all participants. No significant difference was observed in mean vitamin D intakes (diet and supplements) pre-COVID (6.4 µg/day) when compared to that determined post lockdown (5.8 µg/day).  Regular vitamin D supplementation was taken in 20.8% of participants and contributed a mean (± SD) 7.3 (± 5.20) µg/day to total vitamin D intakes. In total 19.5% of participants met the reference nutrient intake of 10µg/day from all dietary sources including supplements.
The results of this secondary analysis show that dietary intakes of vitamin D have not increased from 2019-2022. The dietary intakes are still well below current government recommendations and suggests that further public health strategies are required to increase intake of vitamin D from all sources including (bio)fortified, dietary and supplementation. Implementing policies to target those at risk of low vitamin D dietary intakes may alleviate the disparities in health found in those with vitamin D deficiency.
References
1. Amrein K, Scherkl M, Hoffmann M, et al. (2020). _Eur J Clin Nutr_74_ _1498-1513.
2. Public Health England (2019) _National Diet and Nutrition_ _Survey_ [Available at gov.uk/government/statistics/ndns-results-from-years-9-11-2016-2017 and-2018-to-2019]
3. Glatt DU, McSorley E, Pourshahidi LK, et al. (2022). _Nutrients_ 804.
4. Weir RR, Carson EL, Mulhern MS, et al (2016) _JHum Nutr Diet_ 255-61

The D-VinCHI study: secondary analysis of vitamin D dietary intakes pre-2020 and post-2021

Modern nutrition science is young: It is less than one century since the first vitamin was isolated in 1926. Nutrition science stands upon research conducted by academia, the private sector, and nongovernmental organisations, often in collaboration across these sectors. Its evidence base is of fundamental importance to the solving of current challenges and complexities, optimising outcomes, and the prevention of harm.

In order to remain relevant, nutrition science must address the global challenges, including ensuring nutrition security for all, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and in the context of the post-COVID era. It is timely to take stock and consider how nutrition science must move forward.

The conference is designed integrate three symposium sessions which will commence with reflection on historical exemplars of nutrition achievements, then moving the discussion to current challenges which face the discipline and will culminate in scoping the outlook for nutrition science going forward.