Vitamin D status, vitamin D intake, and sunlight exposure in adults adhering or not to periodic religious fasting for decades

Abstract

We investigated whether periodic abstinence from foods of animal origin and a conservative lifestyle, with reduced sunlight exposure, affect vitamin D status. In a cross-sectional design, we measured the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and assessed dietary vitamin D intake and sunlight exposure in 200 adults adhering to religious fasting for decades and in 200 non-fasters, with no differences between groups in bone mineral density. Fasters showed lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration than non-fasters in winter and spring. Vitamin D intake and some indices of sunlight exposure (including two related to winter and spring) were lower in fasters, and 378 of the 400 participants exhibited vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. In conclusion, individuals following a religious lifestyle had lower vitamin D intake, sunlight exposure and, at times, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration than controls, although these differences did not impact bone health.

Keywords:

• Vitamin D status
• sunlight exposure
• periodic fasting
• dietary intake

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Metropolitan Varnavas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, Thessaloniki; Metropolitan Georgios of Kitros, Katerini, and Platamon; Hieromonk Father Luke Kipouros of Holy Trinity Monastery, Panorama, Thessaloniki; Nun, Melani Chatzipatera, Mother Superior of Assumption of Virgin Monastery, Panorama, Thessaloniki; Professor Emeritus of the School of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Dimitrios Tselegidis; Archimandrite Nikodemos Skrettas-Plexidas; and Archpriest Athanasios Gikas; Professors of the School of Pastoral and Social Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, for their help in collecting the study sample.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.