Tag: African americans

African Americans have significantly lower circulating levels of vitamin D compared to white Americans due to increased skin melanin, but whether this poses a health risk is a subject of debate. This article will delve into what constitutes a normal vitamin D level for African Americans and the factors influencing it, including the role of vitamin D-binding protein.

According to a 2005–2006 analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 82.1% of Black adults in the US had a vitamin D deficiency. This data underscores why African Americans are identified as the US population group at highest risk for vitamin D deficiency, a disparity linked to biological and socioeconomic factors.