Vitamin D deficiency and causative factors in the population of Tehran.
BACKGROUND
There are multiple studies in different countries regarding the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. These studies showed high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Asian countries. This study tries to elucidate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its influencing factors in population of Tehran.


METHODS
1210 subjects 20-64 years old were randomly selected. 25 (OH) D serum levels were measured. Duration of exposure to sunlight, the type of clothing and level of calcium intake and BMI were quantified based on a questionnaire.


RESULTS
A high percentage of vitamin D deficiency was defined in the study population. Prevalence of severe, moderate and mild Vitamin D deficiency was 9.5%, 57.6% and 14.2% respectively. Vitamin D serum levels had no significant statistical relation with the duration of exposure to sunlight, kind of clothing and BMI. Calcium intake in the normal vitamin D group was significantly higher than the other groups (714.67 +/- 330.8 mg/day vs 503.39 +/- 303.1, 577.93 +/- 304.9,595.84 +/- 313.6). Vitamin D serum levels in young and middle aged females were significantly lower than the older group.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D deficiency has a high prevalence in Tehran. In order to avoid complications of vitamin D deficiency, supplemental dietary intake seems essential.
Endocrinology & Metabolism Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. emrc@sina.tums.ac.ir
Sima
S
Hashemipour
Bagher
B
Larijani
Hossein
H
Adibi
Ebrahim
E
Javadi
Mojtaba
M
Sedaghat
Mohammad
M
Pajouhi
Akbar
A
Soltani
Ali Reza
AR
Shafaei
Zohreh
Z
Hamidi
Ali Reza Khalili
AR
Fard
Arash
A
Hossein-Nezhad
Fargol
F
Booya
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003720:Densitometry; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013472:Sunlight; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
D002136:Calcium, Dietary