What Do People Know and Believe about Vitamin D?
People have been exposed to a lot of information regarding vitamin D, with evidence suggesting that vitamin D may be involved in numerous health conditions, subsequently creating concerns about vitamin D insufficiency. As a result, what do people really know or believe about this topic? In this cross-sectional study, we assessed vitamin D-related knowledge and beliefs in 59,273 French adults (NutriNet-Santé cohort) using a specific questionnaire. Answers to this questionnaire were weighted according to the French sociodemographic distribution and compared across individual characteristics, using χ²-tests. Physicians and media were identified as key information providers. Participants did not always accurately cite vitamin D sources (e.g., 72% only for sun exposure, fatty fish: 61%) or established health effects (e.g., bone health: 62%-78%). Conversely, they mentioned incorrect sources and health effects for which there is no consensus yet (e.g., skin cancer). These findings were modulated by age/generational and socioeconomic factors. A strong inconsistency was also observed between participants' true vitamin D status (plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration) and their opinion about it. This study, the first in Europe with such a large sample, stresses the need for simple and up-to-date supports of communication for the public and healthcare professionals regarding sources and health effects of vitamin D.
['Deschasaux|Mélanie|M|', 'Souberbielle|Jean-Claude|JC|', 'Partula|Valentin|V|', 'Lécuyer|Lucie|L|', 'Gonzalez|Rebeca|R|', 'Srour|Bernard|B|', 'Guinot|Christiane|C|', 'Malvy|Denis|D|', 'Latino-Martel|Paule|P|', 'Druesne-Pecollo|Nathalie|N|', 'Galan|Pilar|P|', 'Hercberg|Serge|S|', 'Kesse-Guyot|Emmanuelle|E|', 'Fassier|Philippine|P|', 'Ezzedine|Khaled|K|', 'Touvier|Mathilde|M|']
D000328:Adult D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003625:Data Collection D004032:Diet D005260:Female D005504:Food Analysis D005602:France D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D013472:Sunlight D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D014807:Vitamin D
vitamin D knowledge beliefs vitamin D status population-based study