Very high prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in 6433 UK South Asian adults: analysis of the UK Biobank Cohort

Little research has assessed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and its predictors in Western-dwelling South Asians in a relatively large sample size. This observational, cross-sectional analysis assessed baseline prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in UK-dwelling South Asians (aged 40–69 years, 2006–2010) from the UK Biobank Cohort. Serum 25(OH)D measurements were undertaken using the DiaSorin Liaison XL assay. Of 6433 South Asians with a 25(OH)D measurement, using commonly used cut-off thresholds, 55 % (n 3538) had 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/l (severe deficiency) and 92 % (n 5918) had 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l (insufficiency). Of the participants with a measurement, 20 % (n 1287) had 25(OH)D concentration