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Reliability of self-reported sun exposure in Canadian women and estimation of lifetime exposure to vitamin D from sun and diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 2013

Linda S Cook*
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Internal Medicine, MSC10 5550, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Bevin L Moon
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Internal Medicine, MSC10 5550, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
Yan Dong
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Internal Medicine, MSC10 5550, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
Heather K Neilson
Affiliation:
Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*
*Corresponding author: Email lcook@salud.unm.edu
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Abstract

Objective

To assess the inter-method reliability of the Ovarian Cancer in Alberta (OVAL) survey developed to estimate adult vitamin D exposure from sun and diet for every tenth year, against the longer Geraldton Skin Cancer Prevention Survey (the assumed ‘gold standard’). We also estimated total vitamin D exposure using the OVAL survey.

Design

A randomized crossover design to assess the inter-method reliability of sun exposure (OVAL v. Geraldton survey), using intra-class correlation and estimated total vitamin D exposure from sun and diet.

Setting

Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Subjects

Randomly selected women (n 90) aged 40–79 years.

Results

The average lifetime sun exposure of 13 913 h (average 411 h/year) from the Geraldton survey was not significantly different from the 13 034 h (average 385 h/year) from the OVAL survey for periods with sufficient UV radiation to stimulate vitamin D production. The intra-class correlation coefficient for average lifetime sun exposure was 0·77 (95 % CI 0·69, 0·86); the annual average was 0·60 (95 % CI 0·47, 0·74). Estimated vitamin D from diet and supplements increased with age.

Conclusions

Our OVAL survey reliably estimated adult sun exposure relative to the Geraldton survey, suggesting that assessing sun exposure every tenth year is a reliable and efficient method for estimating sun contributions to lifetime vitamin D exposure.

Information

Type
HOT TOPIC – Public health nutrition aspects of vitamin D
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2013 
Figure 0

Fig. 1 Flow of participants through the randomized crossover design

Figure 1

Table 1 Average differences and correlations between the Geraldton and OVAL survey lifetime measures of sun exposure among randomly selected women (n 90) aged 40–79 years, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 2004

Figure 2

Fig. 2 Bland–Altman plot showing agreement of average annual sun exposure measured from the Geraldton survey and the OVAL survey among randomly selected women (n 90) aged 40–79 years, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 2004. —— represents the mean difference between the two instruments (Geraldton – OVAL: 26 h/year), – – – – represent the limits of agreement

Figure 3

Table 2 Hypothetical estimates of oral vitamin D exposure per hour of sun exposure for a given person in Alberta, Canada for the warmer months of 2004

Figure 4

Table 3 Estimated vitamin D exposure (IU/d) from self-reported diet, supplement use and sun exposure in the OVAL survey among randomly selected women (n 90) aged 40–79 years, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 2004

Figure 5

Table 4 Percentage meeting recommended intakes (both historical and current) with reported sun and dietary exposures for times of the year with adequate irradiation to stimulate vitamin D production among randomly selected women (n 90) aged 40–79 years, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 2004