Pattern of vitamin D deficiency in a Middle Eastern population: A cross‑sectional study

Hussein,Dahat A.; Ahmed,Gasha S.; Ahmed,Shaho F.; Salih,Rawezh Q.; Kakamad,Fahmi H.; Salih,Abdulwahid M.; Hama Amin,Bnar J.; Abdalla,Berun A.; Mohammed,Shvan H.; Salim,Rivan O.; Hamarahim,Sawen E.; Hamid,Shaima S.; Hamarashid,Awara K.; Rashid,Chawan M.; Hamadameen,Wafa A.; Salih,Karzan M.

doi:10.3892/ijfn.2022.30

Pattern of vitamin D deficiency in a Middle Eastern population: A cross‑sectional study

Authors:
- Dahat A. Hussein
- Gasha S. Ahmed
- Shaho F. Ahmed
- Rawezh Q. Salih
- Fahmi H. Kakamad
- Abdulwahid M. Salih
- Bnar J. Hama Amin
- Berun A. Abdalla
- Shvan H. Mohammed
- Rivan O. Salim
- Sawen E. Hamarahim
- Shaima S. Hamid
- Awara K. Hamarashid
- Chawan M. Rashid
- Wafa A. Hamadameen
- Karzan M. Salih
View Affiliations

Affiliations: Scientific Affair Department, Smart Health Tower, Sulaimani, Kurdistan 46000, Iraq, College of Health Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science Department, University of Human Development, Sulaimani, Kurdistan 46000, Iraq, Kscien Organization, Sulaimani, Kurdistan 46000, Iraq
Published online on: November 21, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijfn.2022.30
Article Number: 7
Copyright: © Hussein et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

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.

View Figures

View References

1	Al-Daghri NM: Vitamin D in Saudi Arabia: Prevalence, distribution and disease associations. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 175:102–107. 2018.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
2	Gordon CM, DePeter KC, Feldman HA, Grace E and Emans SJ: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 158:531–537. 2004.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
3	Holick MF: High prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and implications for health. In: Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Vol 81. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp353-373, 2006.
4	Cashman KD: Vitamin D deficiency: Defining, prevalence, causes, and strategies of addressing. Calcif Tissue Int. 106:14–29. 2020.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
5	Tabrizi R, Moosazadeh M, Akbari M, Dabbaghmanesh MH, Mohamadkhani M, Asemi Z, Heydari ST, Akbari M and Lankarani KB: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Iranian population: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Iran J Med Sci. 43:125–139. 2018.PubMed/NCBI
6	Al-Dabhani K, Tsilidis KK, Murphy N, Ward HA, Elliott P, Riboli E, Gunter M and Tzoulaki I: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and association with metabolic syndrome in a Qatari population. Nutr Diabetes. 7(e263)2017.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
7	Duarte C, Carvalheiro H, Rodrigues AM, Dias SS, Marques A, Santiago T, Canhão H, Branco JC and da Silva JAP: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its predictors in the Portuguese population: A nationwide population-based study. Arch Osteoporos. 15(36)2020.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
8	Mansoor S, Habib A, Ghani F, Fatmi Z, Badruddin S, Mansoor S, Siddiqui I and Jabbar A: Prevalence and significance of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among apparently healthy adults. Clin Biochem. 43:1431–1435. 2010.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
9	Forrest KY and Stuhldreher WL: Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults. Nutr Res. 31:48–54. 2011.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
10	Cashman KD, Dowling KG, Škrabáková Z, Gonzalez-Gross M, Valtueña J, De Henauw S, Moreno L, Damsgaard CT, Michaelsen KF, Mølgaard C, et al: Vitamin D deficiency in Europe: Pandemic? Am J Clin Nutr. 103:1033–1044. 2016.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
11	Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Gordon CM, Hanley DA, Heaney RP, Murad MH and Weaver CM: Endocrine Society. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: An Endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 96:1911–1930. 2011.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
12	Badawi A, Arora P, Sadoun E, Al-Thani AA and Al Thani MH: Prevalence of vitamin d insufficiency in Qatar: A systematic review. J Public Health Res. 1:229–235. 2012.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
13	Bolland MJ, Chiu WW, Davidson JS, Grey A, Bacon C, Gamble GD and Reid IR: The effects of seasonal variation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D on diagnosis of vitamin D insufficiency. N Z Med J. 121:63–74. 2008.PubMed/NCBI
14	Rockell JEP, Skeaff CM, Williams SM and Green TJ: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of New Zealanders aged 15 years and older. Osteoporos Int. 17:1382–1389. 2006.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
15	Langlois K, Green-Finestone L, Little J, Hidiroglou N and Whiting S: Vitamin D status of Canadians as measured in the 2007 to 2009 Canadian health measures survey. Health Rep. 21:47–55. 2010.PubMed/NCBI
16	Choi HS, Oh HJ, Choi H, Choi WH, Kim JG, Kim KM, Kim KJ, Rhee Y and Lim SK: Vitamin D insufficiency in Korea-a greater threat to younger generation: The Korea national health and nutrition examination survey (KNHANES) 2008. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 96:643–651. 2011.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
17	Lips P, Cashman KD, Lamberg-Allardt C, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Bianchi ML, Stepan J, El-Hajj Fuleihan G and Bouillon R: Current vitamin D status in European and Middle East countries and strategies to prevent vitamin D deficiency: A position statement of the European calcified tissue society. Eur J Endocrinol. 180:P23–P54. 2019.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
18	Ning Z, Song S, Miao L, Zhang P, Wang X, Liu J, Hu Y, Xu Y, Zhao T, Liang Y, et al: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in urban health checkup population. Clin Nutr. 35:859–863. 2016.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
19	Zhang FF, Al Hooti S, Al Zenki S, Alomirah H, Jamil KM, Rao A, Al Jahmah N, Saltzman E and Ausman LM: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with high prevalence of diabetes in Kuwaiti adults: Results from a national survey. BMC Public Health. 16(100)2016.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
20	Bachhel R, Singh NR and Sidhu JS: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in north-west Punjab population: A cross-sectional study. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 5:7–11. 2015.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
21	Kaykhaei MA, Hashemi M, Narouie B, Shikhzadeh A, Rashidi H, Moulaei N and Ghavami S: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Zahedan, southeast Iran. Ann Nutr Metab. 58:37–41. 2011.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
22	Öztürk ZA, Gol M and Türkbeyler İH: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in otherwise healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 90 years in southeast Turkey. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 129:854–855. 2017.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
23	Abdulrahman MA, Alkass SY and Mohammed NI: Total and free vitamin D status among apparently healthy adults living in Duhok Governorate. Sci Rep. 12(1778)2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
24	Zargar AH, Ahmad S, Masoodi SR, Wani AI, Bashir MI, Laway BA and Shah ZA: Vitamin D status in apparently healthy adults in Kashmir Valley of Indian subcontinent. Postgrad Med J. 83:713–716. 2007.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
25	Atli T, Gullu S, Uysal AR and Erdogan G: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and effects of ultraviolet light on vitamin D levels in elderly Turkish population. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 40:53–60. 2005.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
26	Goswami R, Kochupillai N, Gupta N, Goswami D, Singh N and Dudha A: Presence of 25(OH) D deficiency in a rural North Indian village despite abundant sunshine. J Assoc Physicians India. 56:755–757. 2008.PubMed/NCBI
27	Hussain AN, Alkhenizan AH, El Shaker M, Raef H and Gabr A: Increasing trends and significance of hypovitaminosis D: A population-based study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Arch Osteoporos. 9(190)2014.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
28	Hagenau T, Vest R, Gissel TN, Poulsen CS, Erlandsen M, Mosekilde L and Vestergaard P: Global vitamin D levels in relation to age, gender, skin pigmentation and latitude: An ecologic meta-regression analysis. Osteoporos Int. 20:133–140. 2009.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
29	Khan AH, Iqbal R, Naureen G, Dar FJ and Ahmed FN: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its correlates: Results of a community-based study conducted in Karachi, Pakistan. Arch Osteoporos. 7:275–282. 2012.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
30	Al-Daghri NM, Hussain SD, Ansari MGA, Khattak MNK, Aljohani N, Al-Saleh Y, Al-Harbi MY, Sabico S and Alokail MS: Decreasing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the central region of Saudi Arabia (2008-2017). J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 212(105920)2021.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
31	Sadiya A, Ahmed SM, Skaria S and Abusnana S: Vitamin D status and its relationship with metabolic markers in persons with obesity and type 2 diabetes in the UAE: A cross-sectional study. J Diabetes Res. 2014(869307)2014.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
32	Majumdar V, Nagaraja D and Christopher R: Vitamin D status and metabolic syndrome in Asian Indians. Int J Obes (Lond). 35:1131–1134. 2011.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
33	Oosterwerff MM, Eekhoff EM, Heymans MW, Lips P and van Schoor NM: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the metabolic syndrome in older persons: A population-based study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 75:608–613. 2011.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar