Osteoporos Sarcopenia.  2020 Sep;6(3):133-138. 10.1016/j.afos.2020.08.006.

Association of sunlight exposure with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among working urban adult Filipinos

• Mansibang NMM
• Yu MGY
• Jimeno CA
• Lantion-Ang FL

• KMID: 2507209
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.afos.2020.08.006

Abstract

Objectives
To determine the association of different levels of sunlight exposure, measured using the Filipino sunlight exposure questionnaire (SEQ) with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels among working urban adult Filipinos.
Methods
Seventy-five adult participants, living and working in Metro Manila, for at least 1 year, were grouped according to their perceived sunlight exposure pattern: low sunlight exposure (mostly indoor work); moderate sunlight exposure (both indoor and outdoor work); and high sunlight exposure (mostly outdoor work). After completion of the self-administered Filipino SEQ, they underwent serum 25-OHD level determination. Strength of correlation between the SEQ scores and 25-OHD levels was computed.
Results
Serum 25-OHD levels generally increased with increasing sunlight exposure levels. The overall Pearson’s correlation between the SEQ scores and 25-OHD levels of the participants was 0.396 (P ¼ 0.001). The correlation for the individual domains was 0.342 for intensity of sunlight exposure (P ¼ 0.003), 0.321 for factors affecting sunlight exposure (P ¼ 0.005), and 0.256 for sun protection practices (P ¼ 0.027).
Conclusions
The sunlight exposure of working urban adult Filipinos, as measured by the Filipino SEQ, has an overall significant, direct and moderate association with serum 25-OHD levels. This Filipino SEQ can serve as a valuable clinical tool for sunlight exposure assessment to identify individuals at risk for vitamin D deficiency.

Keyword

Sunlight; Vitamin D; Bone health; Urban health; Philippines