Exposure to sunlight and vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabian women

Fonseca, V.; Tongia, Rohit; El‐Hazmi, Mohsen A. F.; Abu‐Aisha, Hassan

doi:10.1136/pgmj.60.707.589

Cited by 55 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Thus, the median level of vitamin D among women in the study sample (about 9 nmol/l) is actually lower than that reported more than two decades ago among Saudi adult women (15 nmol/l). 22 This might be due to the prevalent cultural habits that have not changed, although the dietary habits have shown some changes towards a more westernized pattern. 23 Moreover, the increased literacy and improved health behaviors do not seem to have an impact on some health issues, especially those related to customs and traditions, as Christie and Mason 7 found in their study addressing Saudi female students' knowledge, attitude and practice regarding vitamin D deficiency.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi married couples

2012

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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. The study objective was to compare vitamin D deficiency in Saudi married couples. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Royal Guard primary health care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on a consecutive sample of 50 Saudi married couples attending the center without complaints related to vitamin D deficiency. Data were collected through an interview questionnaire addressing the risk factors and dietary habits. Quantitative determination of total 25-hydroxy vitamin D in blood was done by Electro-Chemical Luminescence assay. Fieldwork was carried out from December 2010 to January 2011. RESULTS: Men had higher sun exposure (P ¼ 0.001), more use of light clothes at home (P ¼ 0.002) and more intake of milk (P ¼ 0.023) and soft drinks (P ¼ 0.001). Vitamin D was higher in men with mean difference about 9 nmol/l (Po0.001). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (o25 nmol/l) was 70% in women, compared with 40% in men (P ¼ 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified male gender, physical activity and the intake of milk as statistically significant positive independent predictors of vitamin D level, adjusted for factors as age, sun exposure, clothing, skin color, BMI, soft drinks and animal protein intake. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is very high among Saudi married couples, especially wives. Female gender is an independent predictor of lower vitamin D level, in addition to sedentary lifestyle and low milk consumption. There is a need to revise the levels set for the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency in the study region.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi married couples

2012

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“…For example, in Recife, Brasil (latitude 10 -12 degrees South), Bandeira et al 29 observed that 30% of women had hypovitaminosis D. Similarly, a study performed with a group of epileptic patients living in Lebanon, showed an incidence of vitamin D deficiency close to 50% 6 . vitamin D deficiency is also common in Saudi Arabia 30 . These conflicting results indicate that other specific characteristics of patients with epilepsy can influence 25OHD levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone mineral density and serum levels of 25 OH vitamin D in chronic users of antiepileptic drugs

Kulak

Borba

Bilezikian

et al. 2004

Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr.

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-The aim of this cross sectional study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) in a group of patients taking antiepileptic drugs (AED) for a seizure disorder. Between May-2001 and January-2003, we evaluated 58 patients (40 women/18 men), 34.4+6 years old living in Curitiba or in its metropolitan area, on antiepileptic therapy for 2 to 38 years (10 on monotherapy /48 on multiple drugs regime). The group was matched by age, gender, and bone mass index to 29 healthy subjects (20 women/ 9 men); 34.2+5.9 years old. Medical history and physical exam were performed on all subjects with particular information sought about fractures and risks factors for osteoporosis. Blood samples were collected for total serum calcium, albumin, phosphorus, creatinine, total alkaline phosphatase, and liver function tests. BMD of the lumbar spine, femur and forearm was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, Hologic QDR 1000). Between February and April-2003, other blood samples were collected to measure 25OHD, intact paratohormone (PTH) and calcium. Unemployment and smoking history were more frequent among patients than among controls (p<0.05). Fifteen patients had a fracture history, all of which occurred during a seizure. The BMD of the lumbar spine (0.975+0. 13 g/cm 2 vs. 1.058+0.1 g/cm 2 ; p<0.03) and of the total femur (0.930+0.1 g/cm 2 vs. 0.988+0.12 g/cm 2 ; p<0.02) was lower in patients than in controls. In 63.5% of patients and in 24.1 % of controls a T-score < -1.0 in at least one site was seen. The AED users had higher total alkaline phosphatase and lower 25OHD (p<0.02). No correlations between BMD and 25OHD were found. The use of phenytoin was correlated with a greater incidence of fractures (RR: 2.38). We conclude that patients on chronic use of AED have alterations in bone metabolism characterized in this study by lower BMD of the lumbar spine and total femur and lower serum concentrations of 25OHD.KEY WORDS: Enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs, 25OH vitamin D, osteomalacia. Densidade mineral óssea e níveis séricos de 25 OH vitamina D em usuários crônicos de drogas antiepilépticasRESUMO -O objetivo deste estudo transversal foi avaliar a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) e os níveis de 25hidroxi vitamina D (25OHD) em um grupo de pacientes com epilepsia e usuários crônicos de drogas antiepilépticas (DAE). Entre maio-2001 e janeiro-2003 avaliamos 58 pacientes (40 mulheres/18 homens) residentes em Curitiba ou região metropolitana da cidade, com média de idade 34,4+6 anos e tempo de tratamento entre 2 e 38 anos (10 em monoterapia/48 em politerapia). O grupo de pacientes foi emparelhado por idade, sexo e índice de massa corpórea com 29 indivíduos aparentemente sadios (20 mulheres/9 homens; 34,2+5,9 anos). Pacientes e controles foram submetidos a anamnese e exame clínico, com ênfase na história de fraturas e fatores de risco para osteoporose. Nas visitas foram coletadas amostras de sangue para dosagens de cálcio, albumina, fósforo, creatinina, fosfatase alcalin...

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“…In 100 Saudi mothers and their newborns, Taha et al found that 59 mothers and 70 newborns had levels below 10 ng/mL or 25 nmol/L 1920. These and other studies emphasize the need for urgent measures such as vitamin D supplementation in some food items like milk.…”

Section: The Role Of Vitamin D Deficiencymentioning

confidence: 95%

Updated Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis: A Local Perspective

Raef

Al-Bugami

Balharith

et al. 2011

Annals of Saudi Medicine

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Postmenopausal osteoporosis and osteoporosis in elderly men are major health problems, with a significant medical and economic burden. Although osteopenia and osteoporosis are more common locally than in the West, fracture rates are generally less than in Western countries. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the region and contributes adversely to bone health. Vitamin D deficiency should be suspected and treated in all subjects with ostopenia or osteoporosis. The use of risk factors to determine fracture risk has been adopted by the World Health Organization and many international societies. Absolute fracture risk methodology improves the use of resources by targeting subjects at higher risk of fractures for screening and management. The King Faisal Specialist Hospital Osteoporosis Working Group recommends screening for women 65 years and older and for men 70 years and older. Younger subjects with clinical risk factors and persons with clinical evidence of osteoporosis or diseases leading to osteoporosis should also be screened. These guidelines provide recommendations for treatment for postmenopausal women and men older than 50 years presenting with osteoporotic fractures for persons having osteoporosis—after excluding secondary causes—or for persons having low bone mass and a high risk for fracture. The Working Group has suggested an algorithm to use at King Faisal Specialist Hospital that is based on the availability, cost, and level of evidence of various therapeutic modalities. Adequate calcium and vitamin D supplement are recommended for all. Weekly alendronate (in the absence of contraindications) is recommended as first-line therapy. Alternatives to alendronate are raloxifene or strontium ranelate. Second-line therapies are zoledronic acid intravenously once yearly, when oral therapy is not feasible or complicated by side effects, or teriparatide in established osteoporosis with fractures.

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Exposure to sunlight and vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabian women

Cited by 55 publications

References 5 publications

Comparison of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi married couples

Comparison of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi married couples

Bone mineral density and serum levels of 25 OH vitamin D in chronic users of antiepileptic drugs

Updated Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis: A Local Perspective

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