Rainy Days, Geographic Coordinates, Vitamin D, Silicon, Selenium and CHD in Finland in 1962-2014

Töysä T*

Received:September 25, 2018;   Published: October 15, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.10.001896

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Abstract

Background: Higher cardiac as also general mortality in eastern regions of Finland than in the west, has been decades without satisfactory explanation. High number of annual rainy days (RD) and lower serum vitamin D values has been associated with East Finland relative to South Finland. Enrichment of dairy products was begun in 2002. In this study has been assessed regional CHD mortality (a sign of CHD morbidity) from 1964-84 [CHD. (64-84)] and CHD morbidity from 2012-14 [CHD. (12-14)], their association strength and stability with latitude (Lat), longitude (Long), altitude (Alt), RD and groundwater silicon (Si.gw). Areal parts of Uusimaa were combined to one unit, as respectively by Varsinais-Suomi. Number of area units was 18.

Results (R square %´s): [CHD. (64-84)]/ [CHD. (12-14)] associations: Long: 86/52.7%; RD: 61.3/44.2 %; Si.gw: 41.8/38.2 %; Alt: 33.5/32.3 %; Lat 15.8/42.6 %. Alt explained best Si.gw (50.2 %). Long explained best RD. Changes in CHD associations were highest with Lat and Long, smallest with Alt and Si.gw. (Significance: if R square % > 21.8, p < 0.05; if > 34.0, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: CHD morbidity showed high inter-regional stability between several decades and was associated significantly with the number of RD in both periods and suggested on CHD association with serum vitamin D content. Anyhow decrease in CHD E/W ratio until period 2012-14 was mostly occurred before D-vitamin fortification. Serum vitamin D [S-25(OH)D] indicates not only allowance (per os & per skin) of vitamin D, but regulating factors, as Se, too. Changes in CHD E/W ratio during 1962-2002 associated with allowance or fertilization of Se. A new CHD risk factor Alt, with high association with Si.gw is presented. Calculated conclusions are based on supposition that CHD morbidity index can reflect contemporary CHD mortality.

Keywords : CHD; Rainy Days; Latitude; Longitude; Altitude; Vitamin D; Silicon; Selenium; Solar Energy

Abbreviations : Alt: Altitude (Elevation Above Sea Level (m); CHD: Coronary Heart Disease; [CHD.(64-84)]: CHD Mortality in 1964-84; [CHD.(12-14)]: CHD Morbidity by THL Index in 2012-14; Geographic Coordinates: Lat, Long and Alt; Lat: Nordic Latitude (°N); Long: Eastern Longitude (°E); RC: Rural Center (Earlier Agricultural Advisory Center); RD: The (Regional) Number of Annual Rainy Days); Se: Selenium; Si: Silicon; THL: Terveyden Ja Hyvinvoinnin Laitos-National Institute for Health and Welfare

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