Prevalence of risk of deficiency and inadequacy of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in US children: NHANES 2003-2006.

AIM: To assess prevalence and population estimates of increased risk of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] deficiency and inadequacy in US children based on the current Institute of Medicine Committee to Review Dietary References Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium guidelines. METHODS: The analysis was limited to a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized US children and adolescents aged 6-18 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey completed in 2003-2006 and had complete data on 25(OH)D measurements (n=2877). The 25(OH)D levels were adjusted for assay drift and prevalence, and population estimates of increased risk of 25(OH)D deficiency (/mL), risk of inadequacy (/mL), and adequacy (\u3e20 ng/mL) were calculated. RESULTS: Overall, 4.61% of children and adolescents are at increased risk of deficiency (population estimate 2.5 million) and 10.3% are at risk of inadequacy (population estimate 5.5 million) based on the Institute of Medicine guidelines. CONCLUSION: Approximately 10.3% of US children aged 6-18 years (population estimate 5.5 million) have 25(OH)D levels/mL

Bisphenol A (BPA) Found in Humans and Water in Three Geographic Regions with Distinctly Different Levels of Economic Development

The suspected endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) is associated with the manufacture, distribution, and use of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics; thus, studies of this compound have focused primarily on urban areas in developed countries. This small study investigating urinary BPA of 109 people was conducted in the urban United States, urban Jamaica, and rural Ghana. Additionally, local drinking and surface water samples were collected and analyzed from areas near study participants. Levels of BPA in both urine and water were comparable among all three sites. Thus, future studies of BPA should consider expanding investigations to rural areas not typically associated with the compound