Vitamin-D in Nepal: are we really vitamin-D deficient?

Abstract

Background: Recently, there have been a surge in research worldwide regarding relation of vitamin D with several diseases. Many neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease as well as other diseases like cardiovascular disease have shown positive correlation with vit. D deficiency measured according to the international level. Most of the research on possible role of vitamin D has been carried out in America and European nations, while there is paucity of research in low- and middle-income nations (LMICS) that are nearer to the equatorial area. In countries like Nepal, geographically they lie near to the equator and sunlight exposure is well enough and milk consumption is quite moderate. Thus, special consideration for vitamin D level in Asian population seems plausible. This will not only help us to cover the vitamin D deficient population but will help us to avoid excessive and unnecessary usage of it.Objectives: This study aims to detect the situation of vitamin D in Nepalese population and secondly to find out the suitable normalized reference range for serum vitamin D in multi-ethnic Nepalese population.Methodology: This was a hospital based prospective study. A prospective study was conducted using purposive sampling technique with in-vivo and in vitro bio-physiological method to collect serum vitamin D level. After rigorous inclusive and exclusive criteria, a total of 107 subjects were collected.Result: The present study showed that 32% of participants had deficit serum Vitamin-D level (<15 ng/mL), 48% of subjects had insufficient serum level of Vitamin-D (15-<30ng/mL) and 20% of participants had sufficient serum level of Vitamin-D (>30ng/mL). Study showed that there is lower degree of positive relationship of Body Mass Index (BMI) with Serum Vitamin-D level (r=0.162, p=0.094), History of chronic illness (χ2=0.10, p=0.03), timing of occurrence of stroke (χ2=11.41,p=0.017) and diagnosis (χ2=21.19, p=0.011) had significant association with Serum vitamin-D level at p<0.05.Conclusion: There is direct significant association of Serum Vitamin D with socio-demographic variables when international unit is considered. Neurological disorder showed positive association with serum vitamin D level.

Association of Low Vitamin D and Intact Parathyroid Hormone (iPTH) in Nepalese Population: When Does iPTH Exactly Rise?

“…However, the definition of deficiency varies in different studies. We report the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in 30.2%, which is close enough to the findings of Chandra et al [ 20 ], which defines vitamin D deficiency when vitamin D levels are below 15 ng/mL. Other studies state below 20 ng/mL [ 16 , 21 ] and 30 ng/mL [ 22 ] as deficiencies of vitamin D.…”

“…In our study, a total of 85 individuals among 281 had a 25-OH vitamin D level below 20 ng/mL. There is a very high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Nepalese population ranging from 32.0% to 73.6% with female preponderance [ 16 , 20-22 ]. However, the definition of deficiency varies in different studies.…”