he present work was carried out to study the vitamin D status among first grade university female students.125First grade university apparently healthy female youth who were attending Helwan University were conveniently selected. A written consent was obtained. They were subjected to: anthropometric measurements, Dietary assessment by 24 hours dietary recall, frequency food sheet, and laboratory evaluation of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. The energy and nutrients' content were analyzed using the food composition table of the National Nutrition Institute.Food intake was also compared to the recommended dietary allowances by WHO/FAO.This result revealed that 53.0% of the participants were interviewed in autumn; of them 26.0% had normal serum vitamin D level, 62.0% had insufficient values and 12.0% had their results in the deficient range.40.0% of participants were interviewed in spring and their vitamin D results had nearly the same distribution. In addition to there was a significant correlation between vitamin D metabolic state and season of the year.This study concluded that there was a high prevalence of low vitamin D levels among a group of apparently healthy university undergraduate in Helwan University in Cairo, Egypt. There is an urgent need for public education about the vital role of vitamin D to minimize the complications of its deficiency.This study emphasized the need for further vitamin D assessment and interventions targeted at all people.

he research was carried out to study the effect of some personal, behavioral, and environmental factors on vitamin D level amonguniversity female undergraduates in Egypt.A convenient sample consisted of125 first grade Egyptianuniversity female youth was selected. Written consentswerean initial basic step. They filled aknowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) pre-structured questionnaire and were subjected to dietary assessmentusing 24 hours recall, frequencypattern, and milk consumption sheets. Laboratory evaluation of vitamin D and related indicators were measured. Food intake was analyzed and compared to the recommended dietary allowances using the food composition table of the National Nutrition Institute and based on WHO/FAO recommendations. Resultsrevealed that majority of respondents (96.0%) were veiled and 88.0 % were exposed to sun at noon time. Face and hands were the exposed parts in 96.0% of responses and 56.0 % mentioned that sun-exposure took more than an hour. Exposure to pesticides was mentioned in 16.0% of responses. Nearly two thirds were exposed to sun while windows were closed. Only 22.0% heard about vitamin D and two thirds considered milk among un-favored food items. This study concluded that to track progress toward getting rid of a health problem, we have to raise the level of awareness of youth and young adults about this problem.This study emphasized the need for further vitamin D assessment and interventions targeted at all people. There is an urgent need for public education about the vital role of vitamin D to improve vitamin D-related practice and to minimize the complications of its deficiency.