The Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Supplementation (SEDS) study

Dr Sam Hoare

National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health

Vitamin D

2

• 90% from sunlight1

• Bone health2,3

• ?CVD4,5,6 /MS7/Cancer4,5,8/Diabetes9.....

• Management of mild vitamin D deficiency??

(1) Holick MF. Vitamin D: a millennium perspective. J Cell Biochem; 2003(2) Gibson RS, Principles of Nutritional Assessment; 2005(3) Reid, I et al. Effects of vitamin D supplements on bone mineral density: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet; 2014(4) Chowdhury, R et al. Vitamin D and risk of cause specific death: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort and randomised intervention studies. BMJ; 2014(5) Autier, P et al. Vitamin D status and ill health: a systematic review. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology; 2014(6) Rostand SG. Ultraviolet light may contribute to geographic and racial blood pressure differences. Hypertension; 1997(7) Lucas R et al. Sun exposure and vitamin D are independent risk factors for CNS demyelination. Neurology; 2011(8) Gandini S, et al. Meta-analysis of observational studies of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and colorectal, breast and prostate cancer and colorectal adenoma. Int J Cancer; 2011(9) Pittas, AG et al. The role of vitamin D and calcium in type 2 diabetes. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism; 2007

Vitamin D deficiency in Australia

“Around four million Australian adults……. just under one in every four…. were Vitamin D deficient in 2011–12” (Australian Bureau of Statistics - 15th April 2014 www.abs.gov.au/australianhealthsurvey)

(Vitamin D deficiency < 50 nmol/L)3

Seasonal and regional variation in Vitamin D deficiency

4

Summer 2011/12 Winter 2011/12

The SEDS Study

• Are there non-vitamin D benefits of sun exposure?

• Is it possible to increase your vitamin D through safe sun exposure?

5

6

The SEDS study

• Australia-wide randomized controlled trial

• Currently recruiting

• Participants aged 18-64 yrs AND

25(OH)D 40-60nmol/L AND

not taking Vit D supplements

• 1 year intervention

How you can refer a patient (it’s very easy!)

• Recruitment through General Practice • www.sedsstudy.org• info@sedsstudy.org• Tel – 1800 73 2223• Fax – 02 6125 5614• Self-referral – via website, phone or email

7

Thank you!!

8