Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and folate deficiency in healthy young female Austrian students in a health care profession

Purpose We performed a single-day cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency as well as folate status in healthy young female volunteers well educated with respect to health information. Methods We assessed dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium, serum concentrations of 25-OH-vitamin D 3 , folate, red blood cell folate and other dietary, laboratory, and lifestyle parameters in 215 young healthy women (age 18–30 years) on a single day at the end of the winter months. Primary aim was to investigate the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D. Folic acid status was a secondary study aim. Results Mean daily ingestion of vitamin D was 2.25 μg/day with a daily calcium intake of 749 mg/day. 6.9% had hypovitaminosis D (25-OH-vitamin D 3