Oral Presentation Skin Cancer 2024

Vitamin D status, sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake among urban Malay female office workers in Malaysia (#36)

Nor Aini Jamil 1 , Nurul Nadiah Shahudin 1 , Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin 2 , Mohd Jamil Sameeha 1 , Zahara Abdul Manaf 2 , Kok-Yong Chin 3
  1. Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  2. Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-CARE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  3. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysian Malay women face unique challenges in balancing sun exposure benefits and risks amidst religious attire requirements and societal ideals of fair skin. This study determines vitamin D status and its associations with sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake among Malay female office workers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A total of 147 women (mean ± SD age: 36 ± 6.4 years) completed questionnaires on sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake. Skin colour was assessed using a reflectance spectrophotometer, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels were analysed via enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results showed a mean ± SD 25OHD level of 35.2 ± 8.0 nmol/L, with only 9.6% (n=14) exhibiting sufficient levels (> 50 nmol/L). Most participants had skin types II (58.5%) and III (31.3%), with limited outdoor body surface area exposure (10% BSA). Sunscreen use was prevalent only during work (59.9%), while umbrellas were uncommon. Median dietary vitamin D intake was low (5.2 µg/day), with 94.6% failing below the recommended intake (> 15µg/day). Significant positive correlations were found between serum 25OHD levels and sun exposure index (rs = 0.30, p=0.001) and dietary vitamin D intake (rs = 0.27, p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that every unit increase in sun index corresponded to a 2.74 nmol/L rise in serum 25OHD, while a 1 µg increase in dietary vitamin D intake was associated with a 0.25 nmol/L increase. These findings highlight the high prevalence of insufficient vitamin D status within this population, emphasising an urgent need for targeted public health interventions.