Development of a Noninvasive Vitamin D Screening Tool

The purpose was to develop a vitamin D screening tool for use in community health/wellness settings. Fifty-four healthy Caucasian women of normal weight (body mass index = 18–24.9) and obese weight (body mass index ≥30) had anthropometrics measured, and completed three-day food records, vitamin D screening tools, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D tests. Findings provided evidence of usefulness of three specific screening tool items (sunscreen use, obesity, dairy consumption) and indicated need for more precision about sunscreen use. Odds for vitamin D inadequacy were 5 times lower with sunscreen use, 6 times higher with low dairy consumption, and 10 times higher with self-reported obesity, X2 (5, n = 54) = 43.24, P <.01. The study provided initial verification of self-report items useful in assessing vitamin D inadequacy. Following refinement and testing with larger, less homogeneous samples, the instrument can serve as a useful, cost-effective vitamin D screening tool in community health/wellness settings.