Vitamin D in the Persian Gulf: Integrative Physiology and Socioeconomic Factors

Fields, Jessica; Trivedi, Nishant J.; Horton, Edward S.; Mechanick, Jeffrey I.

doi:10.1007/s11914-011-0071-2

Cited by 58 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Vitamin D deficiency was more pronounced among students with light brown complexion and employees with dark brown or black skin color. However, contrary to previous studies,25,27 the adjusted OR did not show significant impact of skin color on vitamin D deficiency. As it is difficult to assess the economic status using income categories, as the type of residence was used as an estimate for the economic class.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Despite that some studies in the region did not find an association between clothing habits and vitamin D deficiency,23,24 others postulated that the conservative culture and concealed clothing style of females in the region were potential causes of low rates of sun exposure and high rates of vitamin D deficiency 13,25,26. Approximately two-thirds of students and employees had light brown skin color, approximately a third had white skin color, and very few had either dark brown or black skin color.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated factors in three regions of Saudi Arabia

Kaddam

Shaikh

Abaalkhail

et al. 2017

SMJ

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Objectives:To measure prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia, unveil the life style, nutritional habits and status, as well as identify the potential risk factors.Method:A school-based survey targeting Saudi school students and employees was conducted during the period from 2013 to 2014 using multistage cluster random sample in Central, Western and Eastern regions. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and difference between various population subgroups were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of potential risk factors.Results:Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 49.5% in students and 44% in employees. Life style was not adequate to protect against vitamin D depletion. Unhealthy nutritional habits were widespread, some manifested in childhood while others manifested later in life. Living in the Eastern region, females, 16-19 years of age, low economic class, obese and lack of omega 3 supplements were risk factors in students. Employees living in the Eastern region, females, middle-income class, carbonated soft drink consumers, and lack of multivitamin supplements were at higher risk.Conclusion:There is a need for a health awareness program using evidence-based recommendations. Screening for early detection and correction of the condition should be proposed to be part of the national health strategy. There is need for identifying the burden of vitamin D deficiency on other diseases to control and improve the prognosis of these conditions.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated factors in three regions of Saudi Arabia

Kaddam

Shaikh

Abaalkhail

et al. 2017

SMJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Studies conducted in Western countries have shown that vitamin D deficiency was present in 20% -25% of the total population [2–4]. In the Middle East region, approximately 60%–65% of the population was affected [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and attitudes about vitamin D, and behaviors related to vitamin D in adults with and without coronary heart disease in Saudi Arabia

2017

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BackgroundVitamin D deficiency is prevailing in Saudi Arabia. Recent national data indicated an inverse association between vitamin D status and coronary heart disease (CHD), which increases concerns about vitamin D deficiency as a serious public health problem. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate whether knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to vitamin D contribute to the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adults with and without CHD in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis case-control study consisted of 130 CHD cases and 195 matched controls. The study subjects were recruited from three hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Structured interviews were completed to collect data on participants’ socio-demographics, knowledge about vitamin D, attitudes toward sun exposure, and behaviors related to vitamin D. Also, serum vitamin D levels were measured.ResultsSevere vitamin D deficiency [serum 25(OH)D < 10 ng/mL] was more prevalent in the CHD cases than in the controls (46% and 3%, respectively). The total knowledge score was higher in the controls than in the cases [2.5 (±1.8) and 1.6 (±2.2), respectively]. The cases had better attitudes toward sun exposure compared to the controls (p = 0.001); however, the controls had better attitudes toward vitamin D compared to the cases (p = 0.001). The controls had a higher consumption of multivitamin supplements than the cases (6.7% and 0.8%, respectively; p = 0.010). Similarly, the controls had a higher consumption of butter (p = 0.001), oily fish (p = 0.004), and liver (p = 0.003) than the cases; however, the cases had a significantly higher intake of milk (p = 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression showed that vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL] was associated with low levels of knowledge about vitamin D, with an odds ratio of 1.82 (95% CI: 1.08–3.06, P = 0.024). Vitamin D deficiency was also associated with low intake of vitamin supplements, with an odds ratio of 4.35 (95% CI: 2.12–8.92, P < 0.001).ConclusionThe present study revealed that low levels of knowledge about vitamin D and low consumption of vitamin supplementation, including vitamin D, calcium, multivitamin, and calcium supplements with vitamin D, may have contributed to the higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the CHD cases than among the controls. Further studies using a qualitative approach are crucial to explore the underlying reasons for low knowledge about vitamin D and behaviors related to vitamin D including the intake of vitamin supplementation that may contribute to the high burden of vitamin D deficiency in the country.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4183-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…The deficiency is almost similar to those living in high latitudes countries (Binkley et al 2007;Lips 2007;Elsammak et al 2011). There is growing tendency for indoor activities by people living in these countries and this partly explains these findings (Fields et al 2011). Moreover, since the 1980's the public has been warned against sunlight exposure to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer and this has played a contributory role in high VDD (Ness et al 1999).…”

Section: What Is Vitamin D?mentioning

confidence: 99%