Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Isfahani High School Students in 2004

Abstract

Background and Aims: Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption and bone growth. Hypovitaminosis and vitamin D deficiency have been observed in developed and developing countries including several in the Middle East. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was investigated in Isfahani male and female high school students in Iran in 2004. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 318 students (153 boys and 165 girls) aged 14–18 years were selected by multistage random sampling. Data were collected by interview and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were measured. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-OHD <20 and <32 ng/ml in which the mean serum PTH began to increase in our population. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency according to 25-OHD <20 ng/ml in all subjects was 46.2% (72.1% in females and 18.3% in males). Vitamin D deficiency in female students was about four times more common than in males (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.88–3.91, p < 0.001). According to 25-OHD <32 ng/ml, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in all students was 72.2% (95.2% in females and 49% in males). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is common in high school students, especially in girls. Avoidance of sunshine or inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D may be the main causes.

Global vitamin D status and determinants of hypovitaminosis D

“…A large proportion of adolescent girls, up to 70% in Iran [89] and 80% in Saudi Arabia [90], had 25(OH)D levels below 25 nmol/L. The reported proportions were 32% in Lebanese girls and between 9% and 12% in Lebanese adolescent boys [91,92].…”

“…The reported proportions were 32% in Lebanese girls and between 9% and 12% in Lebanese adolescent boys [91,92]. Diarrhoea and maternal vitamin D status in infants [93,94] and gender, clothing style, season, and socioeconomic status in older children were independent risk factors for 25(OH)D levels [89][90][91]95]. Several were also predictors for calcium and vitamin D intake [96].…”

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Africa and the Middle East, despite year-round sunny days

“…The following factors have been reported to be associated with vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in Africa and the Middle East: black race and seasonality in SA children; [14] inactivity; smoking; injectable progestin contraceptive use; high alcohol consumption and diets low in calcium and high in animal protein; phosphorus and sodium intake in SA adults; [18] diets rich in corn and cassava; [19] diets rich in unfortified dairy products in Nigerian adults; [15] fast-food diets in the UAE; [20] women in purdah, [21] traditional or religious dress; [15,21] socioeconomic status in Nigerian adults; [22] exclusive breastfeeding in Nigerian children; [15,20,21] indoor lifestyle in Nigeria; [15,20] chronic disease in Egyptian adults, [23] and adolescent girls in Iran and Saudi Arabia; [24,25] anaemia in a group of adults living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; [26] lack of sunlight exposure [16] and body mass index in the UAE. [27] …”

Assessment of serum 25(OH)D concentration in women of childbearing age and their preschool children in Northern Jordan during summer

“…There is a growing body of research suggesting that vitamin D deficiency is widespread among women in the Middle Eastern countries, and although considerable research has been carried out to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adolescent females (Moussavi et al, 2005;Olmez et al, 2006;Siddiqui and Kamfar, 2007), women of childbearing age (Fonseca et al, 1984;Dawodu et al, 1998;Ghannam et al, 1999;Gannage-Yared et al, 2000;Mishal, 2001), veiled/nonveiled women (El-Sonbaty and AbdulGhaffar, 1996;Alagol et al, 2000;Meddeb et al, 2005;Islam et al, 2006;Allali et al, 2008), postmenopausal women (Rassouli et al, 2001) and women with osteoporosis (Lips et al, 2006;Basaran et al, 2007), limited research has been carried out to determine vitamin D status among children in Middle Eastern countries.…”