Journal Articles Nutrients Year : 2016

What do people know and believe about vitamin D?

Christiane Guinot
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  • PersonId : 1019187
Denis Malvy
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Abstract

People have been exposed to a lot of information regarding vitamin D, with evidence suggesting that vitamin D may be involved in numerous health conditions, subsequently creating concerns about vitamin D insufficiency. As a result, what do people really know or believe about this topic? In this cross-sectional study, we assessed vitamin D-related knowledge and beliefs in 59,273 French adults (NutriNet-Sante cohort) using a specific questionnaire. Answers to this questionnaire were weighted according to the French sociodemographic distribution and compared across individual characteristics, using chi(2)-tests. Physicians and media were identified as key information providers. Participants did not always accurately cite vitamin D sources (e.g., 72% only for sun exposure, fatty fish: 61%) or established health effects (e.g., bone health: 62%-78%). Conversely, they mentioned incorrect sources and health effects for which there is no consensus yet (e.g., skin cancer). These findings were modulated by age/generational and socioeconomic factors. A strong inconsistency was also observed between participants' true vitamin D status (plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration) and their opinion about it. This study, the first in Europe with such a large sample, stresses the need for simple and up-to-date supports of communication for the public and healthcare professionals regarding sources and health effects of vitamin D.

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hal-01605005 , version 1 (27-05-2020)

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Mélanie Deschasaux, Jean-Claude Souberbielle, Valentin Partula, Lucie Lecuyer, Rebeca Gonzalez, et al.. What do people know and believe about vitamin D?. Nutrients, 2016, 8 (11), pp.1-15. ⟨10.3390/nu8110718⟩. ⟨hal-01605005⟩
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