In:
Frontiers in Medicine, Frontiers Media SA, Vol. 9 ( 2023-1-9)
Abstract:
Immigrants to Western countries tend to have darker skin than native-born populations. We examined the relationship between skin melanin and serum vitamin D (vitD) [S-25(OH)D] levels and explored whether melanin levels explained S-25(OH)D variations between immigrants and native-born Canadians. This study offers novel findings as no such study has been conducted. Methods We used a national cross-sectional population-based design with data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). Skin melanin levels among first-generation immigrants based on their ethnicity and origin/country of birth were compared with white and native-born populations. We assessed the association between S-25(OH)D and melanin after adjusting for independent variables related to S-25(OH)D, melanin level, and immigration status. Results Of 11,579 participants, 21.9% were immigrants aged 3–79 years (mean age 39.23 years). Compared with non-immigrants, immigrants had lower S-25(OH)D levels (mean: 51.23 vs. 62.72; 95% CI: 8.37, 14.62; P & lt; 0.001) but higher melanin levels (mean [ SE ]: 17.08 [0.25] vs. 16.29 [0.29]; 95% CI: −1.29, −0.281; P = 0.004). Melanin did not differ by length of stay in Canada but was weakly positively correlated ( r = 0.088, P & lt; 0.001) with S-25(OH)D. Sex (male), age (≥18 years), summer/fall seasons, sunlight exposure, sunscreen non-use, smoking, and alcohol consumption were associated with higher melanin levels, whereas indoor tanning use was not. Conclusion Skin melanin levels were associated with sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. Immigrants had higher melanin levels, but melanin did not differ by length of stay in Canada. The weak positive correlation between melanin and S-25(OH)D suggested confounding factors may impact the relationship between melanin levels, S-25(OH)D, and immigration status.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2296-858X
DOI:
10.3389/fmed.2022.992554
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
Frontiers Media SA
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2775999-4
