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Associations between objective and self-reported physical activity and vitamin D serum levels in the US population

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Abstract

Purpose

Both low levels of vitamin D and of physical activity are associated with all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality. There is some evidence based on self-reported activity levels that physically more active individuals have higher vitamin D serum levels. The aim was to investigate associations between objectively measured and self-reported physical activity, respectively, and vitamin D serum concentrations in the US population.

Methods

Data from NHANES 2003–2006 (n = 6,370, aged ≥18 years) were analyzed using multiple regression analyses. A total of 6,370 individuals aged 18 years and older with valid data on vitamin D serum levels and physical activity were included. Objective physical activity was assessed using accelerometers; self-reported physical activity was based on the NHANES physical activity questionnaire.

Results

An increase of 10 min of objectively measured and self-reported moderate-to-vigorous activities per day was associated with an increase in circulating vitamin D of 0.32 ng/ml (95 % CI 0.17, 0.48) and of 0.18 ng/ml (95 % CI 0.12, 0.23), respectively. The odds ratio for being vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/ml) if being insufficiently active compared with being sufficiently active was 1.32 (1.11, 1.57). Associations were not stronger for self-reported outdoor activities compared with indoor activities.

Conclusions

Physical activity may be a way to achieve higher vitamin D serum levels in the population. Factors other than sun exposure that may be responsible for higher vitamin D levels in more active individuals need further investigation.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Seilergraben 49, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland

    Miriam Wanner, Aline Richard, Brian Martin & Sabine Rohrmann

  2. Institute of Epidemiology, German Research Centre for Environmental Health (HMGU), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Jakob Linseisen

Authors
  1. Miriam Wanner
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  2. Aline Richard
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  3. Brian Martin
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  5. Sabine Rohrmann
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Correspondence to Sabine Rohrmann.

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Wanner, M., Richard, A., Martin, B. et al. Associations between objective and self-reported physical activity and vitamin D serum levels in the US population. Cancer Causes Control 26, 881–891 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-015-0563-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-015-0563-y

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