RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Objectively measured physical activity and vitamin D status in older people from Germany JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health JO J Epidemiol Community Health FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 388 OP 392 DO 10.1136/jech-2014-204632 VO 69 IS 4 A1 Jochen Klenk A1 Kilian Rapp A1 Michael Denkinger A1 Gabriele Nagel A1 Thorsten Nikolaus A1 Richard Peter A1 Bernhard O Boehm A1 Wolfgang Koenig A1 Dietrich Rothenbacher A1 and the ActiFE Study Group YR 2015 UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/69/4/388.abstract AB Background To analyse the seasonal relationship of objectively measured physical activity with vitamin D status in older persons from Southern Germany (latitude: 48.4°N). Methods Physical activity was assessed in 1193 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years (58% men) over 1 week using a thigh-worn accelerometer. Furthermore, the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level was measured. Least-square means of 25(OH)D serum levels were calculated for quartiles of average daily walking duration stratified by season and adjusted for gender, age and body mass index. Participants with prescribed vitamin D supplements were excluded. Results Statistically significant linear associations between quartiles of walking duration with 25(OH)D serum levels were observed in all seasons but not in summer. Differences in 25(OH)D serum levels between the first and the last quartile were 3.42 ng/mL (p=0.002) in winter, 2.80 ng/mL (p=0.009) in spring, and 3.60 ng/mL (p<0.001) in the fall. The proportion of vitamin D insufficiency (<20 ng/mL) even in the highest quartile of walking duration was 45.3% in winter, 73.7% in spring, 17.4% in summer and 16.5% in the fall. Conclusions Although a positive dose–response relationship was seen between walking duration and the 25(OH)D serum level for most seasons, vitamin D insufficiency was still very prevalent even in high-active persons during all seasons.