Vitamin D Deficiency in Iran

Abstract

itamin D plays a basic role in bone growth and metabolism and has been noted for its important role in many diseases. Vitamin D deficiency causes a delay in growth during embryonic and childhood periods. It also causes skeletal deformity and increases the risk of hip fracture. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency differs among different sex and age groups in developing countries. Iran is a country with a high prevalence of moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency. The highest prevalence of moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency in men was observed in Tehran, while Mashhad and Bushehr had the lowest prevalence rates among both men and women. 1 The prevalence rates of mild, moderate, and severe vitamin D deficiencies among the adult population were 19.6%, 23.9%, and 26.7%, respectively. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was high even in the sunny city of Isfahan, particularly among women and younger populations. This result emphasizes the necessity of vitamin D supplementation as exposure to sunlight is limited by the type of clothing required by current law. 2 Vitamin D deficiency was seen in 75.1% of women and 72.1% of men. Its high prevalence rate in Iran is similar to those reported by other studies in the Middle East. 3 People pay more for cosmetics and clothes than they do for food and health. People must be convinced that replacing unhealthy foods with healthy ones is essential if they want to be healthy. Despite the World Health Organization's recommendation that annual per capita milk consumption should be at least 165 kilograms, consumption is about 85-90 kilograms in Iran. Vitamin D deficiency is common in various cities located at sea level and in cities with lower geographic latitudes. It is a common medical problem, afflicting an estimated one billion people throughout the world. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in countries where food is enriched by vitamin D (Scandinavian countries) is 1.6-14.8% 4. In other European countries, the prevalence rate among middle-aged and elderly people ranges between 14-59.6%. In Tunisia, it is 47.6%, and among teenagers in Boston, Massachusetts, USA it is 24.1%. Vitamin D deficiency is much more prevalent in Asia. A total of 30-50% of people in India, Lebanon, and Turkey, and also 45.2% of females in China were found to be vitamin D deficient. Several studies in different parts of Iran and among different age groups have shown a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. 5 Its prevalence in Tehran…