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Minerals, trace elements, Vit. D and bone health

Comparison of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi married couples

Abstract

Background/objective:

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. The study objective was to compare vitamin D deficiency in Saudi married couples.

Subjects/methods:

This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Royal Guard primary health care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on a consecutive sample of 50 Saudi married couples attending the center without complaints related to vitamin D deficiency. Data were collected through an interview questionnaire addressing the risk factors and dietary habits. Quantitative determination of total 25-hydroxy vitamin D in blood was done by Electro-Chemical Luminescence assay. Fieldwork was carried out from December 2010 to January 2011.

Results:

Men had higher sun exposure (P=0.001), more use of light clothes at home (P=0.002) and more intake of milk (P=0.023) and soft drinks (P=0.001). Vitamin D was higher in men with mean difference about 9 nmol/l (P<0.001). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/l) was 70% in women, compared with 40% in men (P=0.001). Multivariate analysis identified male gender, physical activity and the intake of milk as statistically significant positive independent predictors of vitamin D level, adjusted for factors as age, sun exposure, clothing, skin color, BMI, soft drinks and animal protein intake.

Conclusion:

Vitamin D deficiency is very high among Saudi married couples, especially wives. Female gender is an independent predictor of lower vitamin D level, in addition to sedentary lifestyle and low milk consumption. There is a need to revise the levels set for the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency in the study region.

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Correspondence to A M Mishriky.

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Elshafie, D., Al-Khashan, H. & Mishriky, A. Comparison of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi married couples. Eur J Clin Nutr 66, 742–745 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2012.29

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