Fam-D-Bread: A Household-Based Dietary Intervention Study of Vitamin D Fortified Bread in Irish Families
Vitamin D deficiency is common. It is caused by limited sun availability together with a low supply of vitamin D in the food system. There is a high prevalence of low vitamin D status around the world. In Ireland, our relatively northern latitude and prevailing weather mean that UVB availability for skin synthesis of vitamin D is limited in this country and our population relies on the dietary supply of vitamin D to prevent deficiency. Thus, the endemic Irish problem of vitamin D malnutrition is due to the lack of vitamin D in our food system. Dietary guidelines cannot address this issue because foods naturally rich in vitamin D are very few and infrequently consumed. The FamDBread study will test the hypothesis that a vitamin D-fortified bread as part of a healthy diet that includes vitamin D-fortified foods is effective in preventing low vitamin D status during winter, and safe for families to consume.
• Provide written informed consent if over 16 years; informed parental consent for children under-16 years, plus age-appropriate assent for children under-16 years.
• Be a household with at least one adult ≥18 years, with at least one dependent aged 5 years or older.
• Willing to consume bread provided and have storage capacity for frozen bread.
• Be in good general health.
• Be willing to follow the assigned diet for 8 weeks and attend the required appointments.