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

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.