Impact of lifestyle and dietary factors on 1, 25-dihydroxyvtamin d concentration of women of reproductive age group

Abstract

Lifestyle and dietary factors play a major role in maintaining and regulating the concentration of 1, 25dihydroxyvitamin D in the body. The study was conducted on 350 women (aged 18-45 years), considering the significance of vitamin D in the health of women of reproductive age. 1, 25dihydroxyvitamin D concentration was assessed using enzyme immunoassay method and chemiluminescence. Dietary history was assessed through 24-hour recall method and a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire for vitamin D and calcium intake. Data on lifestyle practices, including sun exposure pattern was recorded using a pre-tested questionnaire. Results revealed that the 1, 25dihydroxyvitamin D concentration of tobacco and alcohol consumers were 19.87±3.78 ng/ml and 19.67±5.43 ng/ml, respectively, which were much below the normal range for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration (30 ng/ml). Data on dietary intake showed that 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration of both non-vegetarian and non-vegetarian were much below the normal range (18.67±7.66 ng/ml and 19.93±5.31 ng/ml, respectively). Correlation analysis between vitamin D concentration and dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium revealed a significant positive association between the two (p<0.05), indicating decrease in dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium led to the decrease in serum vitamin D concentration. Simple linear regression analysis revealed that 34.45 per cent of the total variability on the 1,25dihydroxyvitamin D concentration was determined by dietary intake of vitamin D and 35.12 per cent of the total variability of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was determined by dietary calcium intake, respectively Thus, the present study shows that the low concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyviatmin D was attributed to lifestyle practices like tobacco and alcohol abuse and inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium. The need of the hour is to sensitize the women about the significance of lifestyle and dietary attributes in improving the concentration of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D and hence, preventing vitamin D related disorder especially pertaining to this age group.