Vitamin D status among adults in the Aegean region of Turkey

Abstract

BackgroundVitamin D is a lipid-soluble hormone found in certain foods and synthesized from precursors in the skin when exposed to ultraviolet light. Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone metabolism and many cellular and immunological processes and low levels have been associated with several chronic and infectious diseases. Vitamin D status is assessed by measuring the concentration of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Vitamin D deficiency is reported to be common worldwide, but little has been reported about the vitamin D status of adults in Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, we determined the prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in adults residing in a city in the Aegean region of Turkey.MethodsA survey was conducted on a representative sample of adults over 20 years old in a non-coastal city at the end of the winter season. Of the 209 households selected by random sampling, 8.6% (n = 18) were unoccupied and 21.5% (n = 45) refused to participate. Blood samples were taken and questions about medical history, vitamin supplementation, sunlight exposure, and dietary calcium and vitamin D intake were asked in face-to-face interviews of 391 adults living in the remaining households.ResultsThe mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 16.9±13.09 ng/mL, with 74.9% of the subjects having 25(OH)D deficiency (<20 ng/mL), 13.8% having insufficiency (20-29.99 ng/mL), and 11.3% of the subjects having sufficient 25(OH)D (≥30 ng/mL) levels. 25(OH)D deficiency was more common among females (78.7%) than males (66.4%, p < 0.05).ConclusionAdults living in an urban, non-coastal setting in Turkey have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.

Predicted efficacy of the Palestinian wheat flour fortification programme: complementary analysis of biochemical and dietary data

“…A significantly higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in women in Gaza City than in Hebron supports this hypothesis since exposure to sunlight is less common in the former. A high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in women has been described in other Middle Eastern countries (21)(22)(23)(24) . The results of the study suggest that the content of vitamin D in the wheat flour may need to be increased.…”

Vitamin D deficiency is a problem for adult out-patients? A university hospital sample in Istanbul, Turkey

“…Interestingly, supporting the significantly lower 25(OH)D levels in our elderly but not younger female patients when compared with males, the age-related fall in vitamin D level was previously reported not to be the same in both genders and suggested to occur at a younger age in women than men (5,21) . While strong seasonal variation in serum 25(OH)D with a marked downward shift during the winter months has been reported consistently (22) , identification of vitamin D deficiency even in the summer months in our countrywhich has, in most of its geographic regions, sufficient sunshine to maintain adequate vitamin D status by dermal synthesis (23)(24)(25) -seems worth noting. In this vein, similar to studies indicating lower levels of vitamin D in females that mainly reflect lifestyle and dress style (5,26,27) , most Turkish women of reproductive age were documented to lack benefit from this source because of their clothing habits (28) .…”

Vitamin D Does not Have Any Impact on Ovarian Reserve Markers in Infertile Women

“…Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are present in 74.9% and 13.8% of the Turkish population in a study by Hekimsoy (20). In our infertile population, 98.2% of the women had a vitamin D deficiency.…”