Study of the relationship between daily alcohol intake and serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations in a sample of healthy young Cameroonian men.

Introduction: The association between alcohol consumption and vitamin D status in young men remains controversial. Few data are available from sub-Saharan Africa, although necessary for better prevention of metabolic bone disease in adulthood. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between regular alcohol consumption and vitamin D status in young Cameroonian men.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study on healthy males aged 18 to 45 with regular alcohol consumption within the last three months. We assessed their ethylic index (EI), hematological and hepatic biomarkers of chronic alcohol consumption, and 25 (OH) vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations, which were compared according to alcohol consumption (low < 20, moderate 20-39.9 and elevated ≥ 40 g/day) using ANOVA.

Results: 155 participants were included, with a mean age of 31 (SD 6) years, a median alcohol consumption duration of 10 [7; 15] years and a median EI of 24 [14; 27] g/day. They mostly consumed beer (95%), with low (42%) and elevated (23%) predominant consumptions. Vitamin D deficiency (< 20ng/mL) was found in 63%. There was no difference in mean 25(OH)D concentrations between the three alcohol consumption groups. No correlation was found between the biomarkers of chronic alcohol consumption studied and 25(OH)D concentrations.

Conclusions: There appears to be no relationship between 25(OH)D concentrations and daily alcohol consumption in young Cameroonian men. Nevertheless, more data are needed, including vitamin D metabolism parameters to better understand this relationship.