Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions towards Vitamin D in a UK Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Clodagh O’Connor, Dominique Glatt, Lois White and Raquel Revuelta Iniesta
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Clodagh O’Connor: Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh EH21 6UU, UK
Dominique Glatt: Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh EH21 6UU, UK
Lois White: Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh EH21 6UU, UK
Raquel Revuelta Iniesta: Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh EH21 6UU, UK

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the United Kingdom is high, despite updated Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) guidelines. Therefore, our aims were to identify population knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of vitamin D supplementation and factors contributing to supplement use in a UK adult population. A cross-sectional study was performed between April–June 2018 using a newly designed piloted questionnaire. Scores for knowledge were calculated as a percentage (Boland et al. 2015). Logistic regression analysis was used to predict supplement use. 209 participants (82% female), mean (±SD) age 34.9 (±12.3) completed the questionnaire. The mean (±SD) vitamin D knowledge score was 56.6% (±19.9%); only 48% were concerned about their vitamin D concentration and 57% did not take vitamin D. Most participants (86%) wished to learn more about vitamin D. Knowledge score (OR 2.5; p = 0.01; 95% CI 1.2–5.3), concern (OR 2.1; p = 0.03; 95% CI 1.0–4.2) and location (OR 0.3; p = 0.006; 95% CI 0.1–0.7) predicted supplemented use. Individuals living in England had 2.9 (95% CI 1.4–6.3) lower odds of taking vitamin D than those living in Scotland. As a result of these findings, this study suggests that vitamin D supplementation and fortification, alongside education strategies, may be an effective method for improving UK vitamin D health; however, more research is warranted.

Keywords: vitamin D; knowledge; attitudes; perceptions; fortification; supplementation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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