Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Isfahani high school students in 2004.
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.
Moussavi
Mohammad
M
Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Heidarpour
Reza
R
Aminorroaya
Ashraf
A
Pournaghshband
Zahra
Z
Amini
Massoud
M
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*
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D