Vitamin D status in Armenian women: a stratified cross-sectional cluster analysis

Abstract

Background Vitamin D plays a critical role in skeletal development and maintenance, thus sufficiency is an important goal for public health programs. Given the absence of foods fortified in vitamin D in Armenia, we hypothesized that vitamin D insufficiency would be widespread. Methods We conducted a random modified cluster model survey of vitamin D status of women in the country. We measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry in dried blood spot samples and utilized a questionnaire to assess lifestyle factors. Results In summer, we sampled 1206 participants from 40 communities in Armenia. Mean 25-OH D level among women aged 18–24 was 20 ± 8 ng/mL; aged 25–64 was 21 ± 7 ng/mL; and >65 was 18 ± 8 ng/mL. The country-wide mean of the entire female population was 20 ± 8 ng/mL. A majority (>54%) had 25-OH D levels <20 ng/mL with nearly 13% having 25-OH D levels <12 ng/mL. Participants who reported calcium, vitamin D, or multivitamin supplementation had higher levels of 25-OH D (p values 0.004, 0.0002, and 0.03 respectively) as did pre- vs. postmenopausal women (p = 0.01), pregnant vs. nonpregnant women (p = <0.0001), and women who had experienced a sunburn in the past year (p = 0.004). Conclusion In Armenia, there is a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency. This information provides data that can be used to inform public health directives to address this pervasive threat to optimal health.

Vitamin D status in a case series of Armenian population: one center cohort datA

“…An earlier evidence in about this population vitamin D status showed lower average 25-OHD for female population in comparison to our data. However, it should be mentioned that, in contrast to our materials, they used another method of 25-OHD measurements, did not include male population, and included pregnant women, in whom they found a markedly high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency [Hutchings N et al, 2021]. Authors showed a difference of mean 25-OHD value between age groups but not clinically significant, in our work we also did not find age-specific differences.…”

“…To overcome it is possible, due to the uniting the knowledge and will of all doctors in the world ulation of reproductive age in Armenia using the dried blood spot sampling and mass-spectrometric method [Hutchings N et al, 2021].…”

Evaluation of the deficiency status of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and associated factors in Southwest China: A hospital‐based retrospective cross‐sectional analysis of a low‐latitude, high‐altitude, multiracial region

“…Furthermore, in the United States and Canada, vitamin D deficiency status remains common even with the implementation of fortification strategies (G and Gupta, 2014). The results from other countries, such as Switzerland (Rabufetti et al., 2019), Saudi Arabia (Bushnaq et al., 2022), Armenia (Hutchings et al., 2022), India (Ganie et al., 2022), Russia (Smirnova et al., 2022) and Pakistan (Arshad & Zaidi, 2022), also revealed widespread vitamin D deficiency.…”

Proceedings of the 2023 Santa Fe Bone Symposium: Progress and Controversies in the Management of Patients with Skeletal Diseases

“…For example, a normal, free-living subject would appear to be adequately nourished with regard to skeletal health, when the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) concentration is at least 20 ng/mL ( 33 ). Using this threshold, Bouillon and others pointed out that most of the world’s population is either inadequate in vitamin D (25-OH D < 20 ng/mL) or frankly deficient (< 12 ng/mL) ( 34 – 36 ). In patients with a metabolic bone disease, however, the threshold might be higher.…”