Pattern of vitamin D deficiency in a Middle Eastern population: A cross‑sectional study
Dahat A. Hussein, Gasha S. Ahmed, Shaho Ahmed, Rawezh Salih, Fahmi H. Kakamad, Abdulwahid M. Salih, Bnar Hama Amin, Berun A. Abdalla, Shvan H. Mohammed, Rivan O. Salim, Sawen Hamarahim, Shaima Hamid, Awara Hamarashid, Chawan Rashid, Wafa A. Hamadameen, Karzan Salih
Abstract
Vitamin D is a critical micronutrient required by almost all body tissues. Globally, vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent to the extent that it is considered a pandemic. The present study aimed to examine the vitamin D status among the healthy population in a specific region. The present study was a cross‑sectional study carried out from June, 2021 to January, 2022. A total of 991 apparently healthy individuals of various ages were randomly recruited from various public areas, and their blood samples were obtained. Among the enrolled participants, 582 (58.7%) were male and 409 (41.3%) were female. They had a mean age of 30.6±12.2 years. Of note, ~74.3% of the population had vitamin D deficiency (20 ng/ml), 21.1% had insufficient levels (20‑29.9 ng/ml) and only 4.5% had normal levels (30‑60 ng/ml). The mean 25‑hydroxyvitamin D level of the study population was 16.29±7.1 ng/ml, with female participants having lower levels (14.05±7.55 ng/ml). There was an overall difference in the mean 25‑hydroxyvitamin D level among the different age groups, with lower concentrations observed in subjects <40 years of age. On the whole, vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among the studied population, particularly among females and those in the younger age groups. Efforts to raise public awareness and the vitamin D fortification of food and dairy products are strongly recommended.