Vitamin D deficiency is endemic in Middle Eastern sportsmen

Abstract

Objective: While vitamin D deficiency is well recognized in Middle Eastern women as a result of cultural norms of remaining covered, Middle Eastern men are an under-reported group. Vitamin D is now known to have multiple effects, including an impact on muscle function, thereby increasing the relevance for sportsmen. The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in young male Middle Eastern athletes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar. Subjects: Ninety-three Middle Eastern men presenting to hospital for an annual screening undertook a blood test to evaluate their vitamin D status. Results: Ninety-one per cent of athletes were found to be deficient in 25(OH)D (serum concentration ,20 ng/ml). Athletes with severe deficiencies were significantly younger than those with less marked deficiency. A subset of athletes underwent bone mineral density assessment and 59 % were shown to have at least one Z-score less than 21; despite this, however, no athletes reported a stress fracture. There was no correlation between 25(OH)D concentration and sunlight exposure, skin coverage and skin colouring.

Low 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations in international UK track and field athletes

“…17 By comparison, in Middle Eastern national level athletes from a variety of sports, 93% of athletes were noted to be deficient and, in Australia, 33% of 18 gymnasts were found to be deficient. 18,19 In our cohort, skin colour and sex were noted to be significant independent predictors of vitamin D status. The remarkable prevalence of deficiency in 54% of dark-skinned female athletes (and insufficient levels in a further 31%) is still comparable with some published literature in older groups of a similar skin colour.…”

“…[18][19][20] Serum 25(OH)D is widely accepted as a biomarker for vitamin D status. 21 While some debate persists as to optimal levels of 25(OH)D for health, it is generally accepted that levels of 20 -30 mcg/l represent vitamin D insufficiency while levels below 20 mcg/l and 10 mcg/l are defined as deficient and severely deficient, respectively.…”

“…Recently, in a study of 93 Middle Eastern male athletes, 91% were found to have a 25(OH)D level <20 mcg/l. 18 A report of 18 elite gymnasts in Australia noted 9 to be vitamin D insufficient and a further 6 to be vitamin D deficient. 19 In a study of 9 -15-year-old Finnish female athletes and non-athletes, 68% of all participants were found to have 25(OH)D levels <15 mcg/l.…”

Year-round vitamin D deficiency among Saudi female out-patients

“…Although one would presume that living at lower latitudes would guarantee protection against vitamin D deficiency, a previous study on the adult population residing in south Florida has shown otherwise (11) . Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency is common in India, Australia, Brazil and the Middle East, because of cultural habits and sun avoidance (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17) . Our goal was to establish the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and to assess seasonal variations in vitamin D levels in adult Saudi female out-patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (24842 0 N), an area of year-round sunny weather.…”

Do Professional Soccer Players have a Vitamin D Status Supporting Optimal Performance in Winter time?

“…So measuring the atlethe's vitamin D level is desirable. Recent studies suggested a vitamin D deficiency in indoor athletes [3] and middleeastern sportsmen [4], on the contrary outdoor cyclists had an adequate vitamin D level [5].…”