title: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Isfahani high school students in 2004.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption and bone growth. Hypovitaminosis and vitamin D deficiency have been observed in developed and developing countries including several in the Middle East. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was investigated in Isfahani male and female high school students in Iran in 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, 318 students (153 boys and 165 girls) aged 14-18 years were selected by multistage random sampling. Data were collected by interview and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were measured. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-OHD <20 and <32 ng/ml in which the mean serum PTH began to increase in our population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency according to 25-OHD <20 ng/ml in all subjects was 46.2% (72.1% in females and 18.3% in males). Vitamin D deficiency in female students was about four times more common than in males (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.88-3.91, p < 0.001). According to 25-OHD <32 ng/ml, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in all students was 72.2% (95.2% in females and 49% in males).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is common in high school students, especially in girls. Avoidance of sunshine or inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D may be the main causes.
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moussavi
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heidarpour
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aminorroaya
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pournaghshband
authors.forename: Massoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003020:Clothing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D