Vitamin D and Health Status of British African-Caribbean Women

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Vitamin D Deficiency

In brief

Vitamin D deficiency remains a global public health issue (Wilson 2017). In the United Kingdom (UK). There is a lack of research looking at vitamin D status of the British African-Caribbean population. This population is particularly at risk to vitamin D deficiency due to possessing a skin type which hinders the production of vitamin D in the skin. Further, due to the geographical location of the UK, there is reduced ability to produce vitamin D due to the low sun exposure (Libon 2013 ). Our main source of vitamin D is through skin exposure to the sun. In the UK, the UV radiation is only strong enough in April-September (Wilson 2017) for the production of vitamin D to occur. In winter months, vitamin D needs to be consumed in food or supplement form. Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and is associated with reduced risk of certain cancers and immune disorders (Wilson 2017). There is strong epidemiological evidence linking low vitamin D status with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and some cancers (NatCen 2018). This observational study will aim to determine the vitamin D status of British Afro-Caribbean women, as well as determine the effects of sun exposure, dietary vitamin D intake, muscular strength, lifestyle and anthropometrical (height, weight etc.) factors have on vitamin D status. The study will be conducted at the University of Surrey. The study will take place in Autumn and winter 2019/2020 and a repeat study in Spring 2020. Each participant will require two visits to the university, each session will take approximately 2 hours. The study is funded by the University of Surrey. The findings of this study may lead to strategies for improving vitamin D status in this population, as well as improving guidelines to assist darker-skinned people regarding sunlight exposure in high latitudes.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04179370

Run by

University of Surrey

People needed

100

Starts

2020-02-07

Expected to finish

2025-03-31

Last updated by the study team

2024-12-16

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Women
• British African-Caribbean Self-reported Having African ancestral origin and migrated via the Caribbean islands, or having at least one parent with African ancestral origin that migrated via the Caribbean
• Living in England for >2 months
• Aged 18-35 or >55 years
• No significant health issues
• Pre-menopausal (regular menstrual periods) or Post-menopausal (menstrual periods stopped for longer than 12 consecutive months)
• BMI 18-30kg/m2

You may not qualify if…

• Women in perimenopause or menopause
• Pregnant or planning pregnancy during study period
• Hypercalcaemia (>2.5mmol/L) - assessed and excluded at baseline
• Currently receiving treatment for medical conditions that are likely to affect vitamin D metabolism (osteoporosis, hormone replacement therapy, anti-estrogens treatment, antiepileptic drugs and breast cancer treatment)
• Regular use of sun beds
• Having a sun holiday one month prior to commencing study or plans for a sun holiday for more than 4 weeks within the study period
• Women who take vitamin D or calcium supplements (or multivitamin supplements that contain these vitamins) - If potential participant agrees to stop supplement use to join the study, a wash-out period of 8 weeks prior to commencing the study is acceptable
• Living in England for less than 2 months

Where it is running

• University of Surrey — Guildford, United Kingdom (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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