Jamal Golbahar1, Nida Al-Saffar1, Diab Altayab Diab1, Sara Al-Othman1, Abdullah Darwish2, Ghada Al-Kafaji1. 1. 1 Diagnostic Services, Al-Jawhara Centre for Genetic Diagnosis and Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, PO Box 22979, Manama, Bahrain. 2. 2 Department of Pathology and Laboratory, Royal Medical Services, Bahrain Defense Force Hospital, Manama, Bahrain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D has been reported to be common in different regions of the Middle East. The objective of the present study was to examine the predictors of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Bahrainis. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Blood transfusion volunteers at a blood bank. SUBJECTS: Serum levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D, bone markers and other parameters such age, sex, season and clothing style in the 500 healthy Bahrainis were investigated. RESULTS: In the entire cohort the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 49.4% and the relative risk of vitamin D deficiency increased significantly by 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.7 and 1.2 fold with younger age group (P = 0.03), hyperparathyroidism (P = 0.01), low serum Ca (P < 0.001), warm and hot months of the year (P < 0.0001) and female sex (P = 0.002), respectively. In females the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 67.6% and the relative risk of vitamin D deficiency increased significantly by 1.1, 1.2, 1.2, 1.2 and 1.4 fold with younger age group (P = 0.04), hyperparathyroidism (P = 0.03), low serum Ca (P = 0.001), warm and hot months of the year (P = 0.001) and conservative clothing style (P = 0.04), respectively. In contrast, in males the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 31.2% and the relative risk of vitamin D deficiency was increased by 1.6 fold in warm and hot months of the year (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of low circulating levels of vitamin D and the relative risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency observed in the present study suggest an urgent need for public health interventions including vitamin D food fortification in Bahrain.
OBJECTIVE: High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D has been reported to be common in different regions of the Middle East. The objective of the present study was to examine the predictors of vitamin Ddeficiency and insufficiency in Bahrainis. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Blood transfusion volunteers at a blood bank. SUBJECTS: Serum levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D, bone markers and other parameters such age, sex, season and clothing style in the 500 healthy Bahrainis were investigated. RESULTS: In the entire cohort the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 49.4% and the relative risk of vitamin D deficiency increased significantly by 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.7 and 1.2 fold with younger age group (P = 0.03), hyperparathyroidism (P = 0.01), low serum Ca (P < 0.001), warm and hot months of the year (P < 0.0001) and female sex (P = 0.002), respectively. In females the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 67.6% and the relative risk of vitamin D deficiency increased significantly by 1.1, 1.2, 1.2, 1.2 and 1.4 fold with younger age group (P = 0.04), hyperparathyroidism (P = 0.03), low serum Ca (P = 0.001), warm and hot months of the year (P = 0.001) and conservative clothing style (P = 0.04), respectively. In contrast, in males the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 31.2% and the relative risk of vitamin D deficiency was increased by 1.6 fold in warm and hot months of the year (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of low circulating levels of vitamin D and the relative risk factors associated with vitamin Ddeficiency and insufficiency observed in the present study suggest an urgent need for public health interventions including vitamin D food fortification in Bahrain.
Authors: K Al-Dabhani; K K Tsilidis; N Murphy; H A Ward; P Elliott; E Riboli; M Gunter; I Tzoulaki Journal: Nutr Diabetes Date: 2017-04-10 Impact factor: 5.097
Authors: William B Grant; Hana M A Fakhoury; Spyridon N Karras; Fatme Al Anouti; Harjit P Bhattoa Journal: Nutrients Date: 2019-09-03 Impact factor: 5.717