Vitamin D and Musculoskeletal Status in Nova Scotian Women Who Wear Concealing Clothing

Abstract

Bone and muscle weakness due to vitamin D deficiency is common among Muslim women who reside in sunny, equatorial countries. The purpose of this study was to determine if living in a northern maritime location additionally disadvantages women who wear concealing clothes. A cross-sectional matched pair design was used to compare women who habitually wore concealing clothing with women who dressed according to western norms. Each premenopausal hijab-wearing woman (n = 11) was matched by age, height, weight and skin tone with a western-dressed woman. Subjects were tested by hand grip dynamometry to assess muscular strength and by quantitative ultrasound at the calcaneus to assess bone status. Nutritional intake was obtained by 24 h recall. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) status was determined in seven matched pairs. The hijab group had lower s-25(OH)D than women who wore western clothes (40 ± 28 vs. 81 ± 32 nmol/L, p= 0.01). Grip strength in the right hand was lower in the hijab-wearing women (p = 0.05) but this appeared to be due to less participation in intense exercise. Bone status did not differ between groups (p= 0.9). Dietary intake of vitamin D was lower in the hijab-wearers (316 ± 353 vs. 601 ± 341 IU/day, p= 0.001). This pilot study suggests that women living in a northern maritime location appear to be at risk for vitamin D insufficiency and therefore should consider taking vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin D and muscle strength throughout the life course: a review of epidemiological and intervention studies

“…A smaller study of 137 women aged 19–29 years [mean 25(OH)D of 54 nmol L −1 ] also found a significant positive association between 25(OH)D concentrations and muscle strength (handgrip strength) (Von Hurst et al ., ). Similar findings were reported in a very small study ( n = 22) of Muslim women living in Canada with mean 25(OH)D concentrations of 36 nmol L −1 (Ojah & Welch, ). By contrast, no association between 25(OH)D concentrations and muscle strength was found in a study of 1219 men (mean age 48 years) by Ceglia et al .…”

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency across the spectrum of glucose intolerance

“…The majority of our clientele hails from Muslim community and their cultural etiquette requires wearing a long robe called “Burqa” by females in outdoors. This additional layer of clothes covers the skin completely preventing the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin [ 20 ]. The unique factors responsible for the high prevalence of VDD in our country include dark skin, lack of sunlight exposure, poor dietary consumption and lack of food fortification [ 21 ].…”

Determinants of Vitamin D Status in Fair-Skinned Women of Childbearing Age at Northern Latitudes

“…Previous studies on women living at northern latitudes have focused on populations at risk of hypovitaminosis D; pregnant [12], [13] postmenopausal women [14], [15] or women with high skin pigmentation and/or concealing clothing [16], [17]. Very few data are available on vitamin D status of non-pregnant, fair-skinned women of childbearing age living at northern latitudes [18], [19], [20], [21].…”