Title: The role of vitamin D supplementation in improving health outcomes among different ethnic groups

Authors: Theophilus E. Eboigbe; Shankar Srinivasan

Addresses: Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers – School of Health Professions, Piscataway, NJ 08854, 675, Hoes Lane West, 8th Floor, USA ' Department of Health Informatics, Rutgers – School of Health Professions, Piscataway, NJ 08854, 675, Hoes Lane West, 8th Floor, USA

Abstract: The study investigates the association between vitamin D supplementation and the risk of diabetes and depression across diverse ethnic groups in the USA, using NHANES 2015-2018 data. The analysis reveals significant ethnic disparities in the protective effects of vitamin D supplementation. Mexican Americans who took supplements had a reduced risk of diabetes (OR = 1.389, 95% CI: 1.142-1.690), while African Americans showed a reduced risk of depression (OR = 1.286, 95% CI: 1.021-1.620). These findings suggest that vitamin D supplementation may benefit these populations, likely due to genetic and environmental factors. The study underscores the need for personalised public health strategies that account for ethnic differences and baseline vitamin D levels, advocating for a tailored supplementation approach to mitigate health disparities related to diabetes and depression in high-risk groups.

Keywords: vitamin D supplementation; diabetes; depression; ethnic disparities; National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; NHANES; protective effects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAIH.2025.149240

International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, 2025 Vol.1 No.1, pp.4 - 16

Received: 16 Sep 2024
Accepted: 23 Nov 2024
Published online: 20 Oct 2025 *