Effects of a healthy Nordic diet on plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in subjects with metabolic syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (SYSDIET)

• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-014-0674-3
• Publication Date: 2014-02-25T04:17:49Z
• Authors: Lea Brader; Lars Rejnmark; Carsten Carlberg; Ursula Schwab; Marjukka Kolehmainen; Fredrik Rosqvist; Lieselotte Cloetens; Mona Landin-Olsson; Ingibjorg Gunnars...; Kaisa S. Poutanen; Karl-Heinz Herzig; Ulf Risérus; Markku J. Savolainen; Inga Thorsdottir; Matti Uusitupa; Kjeld Hermansen
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Nutritional Status; Body Mass Index; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Life Style; Aged; Metabolic Syndrome; 2. Zero hunger; Feeding Behavior; Middle Aged; Diet; 3. Good health; Nutrition Assessment; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fruit; Dietary Supplements; Female; Dairy Products; Edible Grain

At northern latitudes, vitamin D is not synthesized endogenously during winter, causing low plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of a healthy Nordic diet based on Nordic nutrition recommendations (NNR) on plasma 25(OH)D and explored its dietary predictors.In a Nordic multi-centre trial, subjects (n = 213) with metabolic syndrome were randomized to a control or a healthy Nordic diet favouring fish (≥300 g/week, including ≥200 g/week fatty fish), whole-grain products, berries, fruits, vegetables, rapeseed oil and low-fat dairy products. Plasma 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone were analysed before and after 18- to 24-week intervention.At baseline, 45 % had vitamin D inadequacy (<50 nmol/l), whereas 8 % had deficiency (<25 nmol/l). Dietary vitamin D intake was increased by the healthy Nordic diet (P < 0.001). The healthy Nordic and the control diet reduced the prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy by 42 % (P < 0.001) and 19 % (P = 0.002), respectively, without between-group difference (P = 0.142). Compared with control, plasma 25(OH)D (P = 0.208) and parathyroid hormone (P = 0.207) were not altered by the healthy Nordic diet. Predictors for 25(OH)D were intake of vitamin D, eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), vitamin D supplement, plasma EPA and plasma DHA. Nevertheless, only vitamin D intake and season predicted the 25(OH)D changes.Consuming a healthy Nordic diet based on NNR increased vitamin D intake but not plasma 25(OH)D concentration. The reason why fish consumption did not improve vitamin D status might be that many fish are farmed and might contain little vitamin D or that frying fish may result in vitamin D extraction. Additional ways to improve vitamin D status in Nordic countries may be needed.