title: Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and normal serum calcium concentrations in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh region.
abstract: Serum levels of the circulating form of vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and calcium were measured in 104 Saudis, 44 Jordanians , 17 Egyptians and 10 other subjects aged between 18 and 23 years. All subjects were male university students living in Riyadh for more than 2 years. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels were (mean +/- SD) 12.8 +/- 6.3, 11.0 +/- 5.8, 11.9 +/- 6.9 and 11.9 +/- 5.0 ng/ml, respectively. The percentages of subjects with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 10 ng/ml were 35, 45, 53 and 50% for normal Saudis, Jordanians , Egyptians and others, respectively. All subjects had normal serum calcium concentrations. There was no correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and serum calcium levels in the subjects investigated. This study indicates a tendency for a low vitamin D status among residents of Saudi Arabia, in spite of abundant sunlight all the year round.
mesh_terms: D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D004534:Egypt / Q000208:ethnology; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014505:Urban Population; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004872:Ergocalciferols; D015652:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2; D002118:Calcium