Prevailing Serum Vitamin D Levels among Individuals in South Karnataka

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Prevalence of vitamin deficiency is very high in India. The aim of the present study was to determine according to age groups, the status of vitamin D among individuals using samples received at clinical biochemistry laboratory. Materials and methods: The study population was grouped according to gender and age in decades. They were divided into three groups according to serum vitamin D status-NVD (normal serum vitamin D, >30 ng/ml), VDI (vitamin D insufficiency, 20-30 ng/ml), VDD (vitamin D deficiency, <20 ng/ml). Blood was collected in plain vacutainers and serum obtained was used for vitamin D estimation. Results were expressed as percentage of the sub-population in question. Results: Only 13% of the total study population was normal, 70% was vitamin D deficient and 17% showed vitamin D insufficiency. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was very high in all age groups and both genders. In all age groups, there were a higher percentage of females in the vitamin D insufficient and deficient groups. Males recorded higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the 0-10 and 20-30 years age group while females recorded higher prevalence of the vitamin deficiency in the 20-30 years and 30-40 years age group Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in the present study was high at all age groups and both genders. Further research needs to be conducted to correlate the changing dietary habits to the alterations in availability of 7-dehydrocholesterol for cutaneous biosynthesis of vitamin D