Culture, Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Deficiency in Benghazi Libya

Omar, Mariam; Nouh, Faiza; Younis, Manal; Younis, Moftah; Nabil, Nesma; Saad, Marwa; Ali, Munyah

doi:10.9734/jammr/2018/39562

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Numerous studies reported that clothing culture (veiling) and general avoidance of sun exposure, due to the cultural preferences and sun illumination intensity, are significant contributors to this situation in the whole region [5,13,15,19,35]. These findings were confirmed in our study by observing prevalence of sedentary lifestyle and low sun exposure.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

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Assessment of vitamin D intake among Libyan women – adaptation and validation of specific food frequency questionnaire

Faid

Nikolić

Milešević

et al. 2018

Libyan Journal of Medicine

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Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has pandemic proportions worldwide. Numerous studies report on high prevalence of VDD in sunny regions like Near East and North Africa (NENA). Previous studies indicated that Libyan population was at risk of VDD. To contribute to the body of evidence, measurement of vitamin D status on children, adults, in Misurata region was conducted, and confirmed with validated dietary intake study. Serum 25(OH)D was analysed using electrochemiluminescence protein binding assay. Existing Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) were adapted to Libyan Women Food Frequency Questionnaire (LW-FFQ). Repeated 24 h dietary recalls and LW-FFQ were employed in vitamin D intake evaluation. LW-FFQ was validated using 24 h dietary recall and vitamin D status as referent methods. The questionnaires included anthropometry and lifestyle information. Vitamin D status assessment revealed inadequate levels (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l) in almost 80% of participants. Women (25-64 y) were identified as the most vulnerable group with vitamin D inadequacy present in 82% (61.6% had 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/l, and 20.2% had 25–50 nmol/l 25(OH)D). Average Vitamin D intake within the study sample (n = 316) was 3.9 ± 7.9 µg/d, with 92% participants below both Institute of Medicine (IOM) (10 µg/d) and European Food Safety Authority (15 µg/d) recommendations. Measured vitamin D status, in 13% of this group, correlated significantly (p = 0.015) with intake estimates. Based on self-report, consumption of vitamin D supplements does not exist among study participants. Additional lifestyle factors influencing vitamin D status were analysed. Only 2% of study participants spend approximately 11 min on the sun daily, 60.4% were obese, 23.1% were overweight and 71.2% reported low physical activity. These findings confirm previous reports on high prevalence of VDD in women across NENA, and in Libya. The situation calls for multi-sectoral actions and public health initiatives to address dietary and lifestyle habits.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Majority of Libyan women wear traditional attire and have indoor lifestyle, or avoid sun exposure due to cultural customs as a study confirmed [19]. Thus, their vitamin D intake rely greatly on the food they eat, which might not be enough to meet requirements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of vitamin D intake among Libyan women – adaptation and validation of specific food frequency questionnaire

Faid

Nikolić

Milešević

et al. 2018

Libyan Journal of Medicine

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“…All participants were not exposed to sun light in any significant time due to dress code, life style and cultural choices of protecting skin to maintain paler tone. Although this was not evident in this study but we think these factors are playing a major role in this widely prevalent deficiency status [25].…”

Section: Archives Of Internal Medicine Research 11contrasting

confidence: 54%

Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnant Diabetic Patients in Western Libya

Murad¹,

Hanan²,

Abdulghani³

et al. 2019

Arch Intern Med Res

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Despite the relative abundance of sunny weather, surprisingly, there is increasing evidence that vitamin D deficiency is extremely prevalent in females of reproductive age in Middle East countries. There is also increasing interest in the non-classical roles of vitamin in health and disease including its relation to incidence of gestational diabetes, its impact on glycaemic control in diabetes mellitus, and its association with some complications of pregnancy like preeclampsia. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant diabetic patients in west Libya and analyse potential links to socioeconomic and cultural factors. This is a cross sectional observational study. Random plasma was collected form expected mothers attending the Antenatal Diabetes Clinic at Tripoli's Main Maternity Hospital. Demographics and socioeconomic and cultural factors were recorded at the same time. Samples were analysed for vitamin D level and biochemical screening panel. Vitamin D level was obtained from 160 patients (mean age 35 years). Over all 95 % of the study population had vitamin D levels below normal (defined as vitamin D level of < 20 ng/mL). Results were subcategorised into severe deficiency (<10 ng/ml, 51.9%-83 patients), deficiency (< 20 ng/mL, 43.1%, 69 patients), insufficiency (20 -30 ng/ml, 3.8%, 6 patients) and sufficient (> 30 ng/ml, only 1.3%, 2 patients). All patients were taking daily vitamin D Supplements at a dose of 400 IU as per hospital policy. Vitamin D deficiency is extremely prevalent in pregnant diabetic patients in Libya. There is no clear association with socioeconomic risk factors like employment, type of accommodation or geographic distribution. However, most of the study population had life style characterized by minimal exposure to direct sun

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“…Clinical and epidemiological data report its association with a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, and autoimmune diseases and cancers as well [2]. Based on the current research data, Libyan population is at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, mostly due to their lifestyle and cultural customs, which particularly causes them to have inadequate skin exposure to the sun [3]. Due to the traditionally low exposure to the sun (that enables the majority of the subcutaneous synthesis of vitamin D), the status of this micronutrients among Libyan women almost exclusively relies on dietary factors and supplementation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Vitamin D and cardio-metabolic biomarkers: small-scale comparative study between Libyan migrants and resident women in Serbia

Kardum

Faid

Pantović

et al. 2019

Libyan Journal of Medicine

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Libyan women are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, mostly due to their lifestyle and low exposure to sun. In the last decades, Libyan residents have been forced to seek refuge in countries such as Serbia, a country with high incidence of cardio-metabolic diseases. Serbian residents tend to be deficient in vitamin D, mostly due to the lack of vitamin D fortification policy. The aim of this study was to evaluate vitamin D status in Libyan adult women migrating to Serbia, with the assessment of cardio-metabolic and nutritional biomarkers, including erythrocytes fatty acid composition, magnesium concentration, and dietary intake. The same markers were measured in Serbian women, and comparisons between the groups were made. Despite low vitamin D dietary intake in both study groups, we observed lower plasma vitamin D status in Libyan women. This was accompanied by a significantly lower concentration of magnesium in Libyan women. Libyan women had significantly higher omega-3 index and lower n-6/n-3 ratio in erythrocytes’ phospholipids. We observed significant negative correlation between vitamin D and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentrations in both study groups. Despite lower vitamin D status in the Libyan group, erythrocyte fatty acid composition, along with blood lipids’ concentrations, indicated a lower cardiovascular risk. Based on our results, the discrepancy in the vitamin D status could not be ascribed to the participants’ dietary intake of the micronutrient, rather is potentially associated with ethnic-specific cardio-metabolic profile, which should be confirmed in larger cohorts.

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Culture, Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Deficiency in Benghazi Libya

Cited by 12 publications

References 0 publications

Assessment of vitamin D intake among Libyan women – adaptation and validation of specific food frequency questionnaire

Assessment of vitamin D intake among Libyan women – adaptation and validation of specific food frequency questionnaire

Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnant Diabetic Patients in Western Libya

Vitamin D and cardio-metabolic biomarkers: small-scale comparative study between Libyan migrants and resident women in Serbia

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