Vitamin D status among healthy postmenopausal women in South America.

Vitamin D status has been extensively studied throughout the world. However, most of the studies are from North America, Europe and Oceania. This review describes published evidence on vitamin D status among healthy postmenopausal women in South America, where food is not fortified with vitamin D. A literature search identified ten studies from only three countries in the region: Argentina, Brazil and Chile. These studies reported a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, in spite of their location at latitudes with abundant sunlight throughout the year. In studies with proper design, a clear North-South gradient was revealed with higher 25(OH)D levels toward the equator. Seasonal changes in 25(OH)D were more likely to be detected in younger subjects. These results are very similar to what has been reported in the Northern Hemisphere and they emphasize the importance of recommendations for a higher vitamin D intake in this population from South America.