Description
The purpose of this study was to determine if a link exists between serum vitamin D levels and self-reported health status. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of vitamin D and self-reported health status independently on various morbidities and mortality, but they have not assessed these variables together. This study is the first to examine the association between vitamin D and self-reported health status. An association between vitamin D and self-reported health status will add to the growing body of evidence that suggests that vitamin D plays an important role in health. NHANES 2005-2006 data were used to explore the potential association between vitamin D (25-OH D) and self-reported health status before and after adjusting for potential confounders. Using logistic regression, vitamin D was significantly associated with self-reported health status both before and after adjusting for confounders. After adjusting for all the other variables in the model, the odds of poor self-reported health status was 2.037 (95% CI 1.408, 2.947) times higher in the vitamin D insufficient (plasma 25-OH D < 30 ng/ml) group compared to the vitamin D sufficient group. The major limitation of this study is that it was not possible to control for all confounders known to be associated with self-reported health status. In addition, although a link between vitamin D and self-reported health status was evident, more studies are needed to elucidate the nature of the relationship between the two. Regardless, with the high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in the United States population (and worldwide), and the relative ease with which it can be corrected, strong public health emphasis should be place on treating vitamin D insufficiency.
