Vitamin D intakes among women living with and without HIV in Canada

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundPatterns of vitamin D intake are relatively unexplored among women living with HIV, despite its importance for women's health. We compared vitamin D dietary and supplement intakes in women with HIV and population‐based national controls and investigated barriers to intake.MethodsIn this case–control study, women with HIV in the Children and Women: AntiRetrovirals and Markers of Aging (CARMA) cohort were matched with Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos) controls. Participants were queried for vitamin D in dairy consumption, supplementation/dosage, and sociodemographic variables. We assessed barriers to supplementation and factors associated with dietary intake by regression modelling.ResultsNinety‐five women living with HIV were age‐matched to 284 controls. Women with HIV had lower income and bone mineral density and were more likely to smoke, take multiple medications and be non‐white. Vitamin D dietary intake was lower in women living with HIV versus controls [0.76 vs. 1.79 μg/day; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for greater than or equal to median intake 0.29 (0.12–0.61), p = 0.002], but any supplementation was higher [62.2% vs. 44.7%; aOR = 3.44 (95% CI: 1.16–11.00), p = 0.03]. Total vitamin D intake was similar between groups. Smoking was associated with no supplementation; non‐white ethnicity and low income were related to lower dietary intake.ConclusionsWomen living with HIV showed lower dietary vitamin D intake but higher supplementation rates, suggesting that care providers are promoting supplementation. Women living with HIV who smoke, have low incomes and are non‐white may particularly benefit from targeted efforts to improve vitamin D intake.