TY - JOUR
T1 - Better knowledge on vitamin D and calcium in older people is associated with a higher serum vitamin D level and a higher daily dietary calcium intake
AU - Oudshoorn, Christian
AU - Hartholt, Klaas A.
AU - Van Leeuwen, Johannes P.T.M.
AU - Colin, Edgar M.
AU - Van Der Velde, Nathalie
AU - Van Der Cammen, Tischa J.M.
N1 - Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit
sectors
PY - 2012/7
Y1 - 2012/7
N2 - Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine knowledge on vitamin D and calcium in a cohort of older adults and to test the association between health knowledge, vitamin D status and dietary calcium intake.Methods: The participants of this cross-sectional survey consisted of 426 individuals (≥65 years), living in residential homes. Participants were tested for their knowledge on vitamin D and calcium using a standardized questionnaire. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25(OH)D 3) levels and dietary calcium intake were measured.Results: The mean serum 25(OH)D 3 level was 39.1 (±21.4) nmol/l and the mean daily dietary calcium intake was 826 (±242) mg/day. Of the participants, only 38 per cent indicated that they knew or had heard of vitamin D. Participants overestimated their daily calcium intake. Better knowledge on vitamin D and calcium was associated with both higher vitamin D levels (P < 0.0001) and a higher daily dietary calcium intake (P < 0.0001).Conclusion: Given the poor knowledge on vitamin D and calcium and the observed associations, improving health knowledge could be a possible intervention to improve vitamin D status and calcium intake in older people. Further studies are needed to assess whether education will indeed lead to improvement of vitamin D levels and calcium intake in this age group.
AB - Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine knowledge on vitamin D and calcium in a cohort of older adults and to test the association between health knowledge, vitamin D status and dietary calcium intake.Methods: The participants of this cross-sectional survey consisted of 426 individuals (≥65 years), living in residential homes. Participants were tested for their knowledge on vitamin D and calcium using a standardized questionnaire. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25(OH)D 3) levels and dietary calcium intake were measured.Results: The mean serum 25(OH)D 3 level was 39.1 (±21.4) nmol/l and the mean daily dietary calcium intake was 826 (±242) mg/day. Of the participants, only 38 per cent indicated that they knew or had heard of vitamin D. Participants overestimated their daily calcium intake. Better knowledge on vitamin D and calcium was associated with both higher vitamin D levels (P < 0.0001) and a higher daily dietary calcium intake (P < 0.0001).Conclusion: Given the poor knowledge on vitamin D and calcium and the observed associations, improving health knowledge could be a possible intervention to improve vitamin D status and calcium intake in older people. Further studies are needed to assess whether education will indeed lead to improvement of vitamin D levels and calcium intake in this age group.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866247844&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0017896911406965
DO - 10.1177/0017896911406965
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84866247844
SN - 0017-8969
VL - 71
SP - 474
EP - 482
JO - Health Education Journal
JF - Health Education Journal
IS - 4
ER -
