title: Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D inadequacy amongst Lebanese osteoporotic women.
abstract: In Middle-Eastern countries, more particularly in Lebanon, the incidence of vitamin D deficiency has been found to be surprisingly high in schoolchildren and young individuals. However, the prevalence and risk factors for vitamin D inadequacy amongst Lebanese osteoporotic women seeking medical health care has never been studied. We analysed vitamin D-inadequacy risk factors among the 251 Lebanese postmenopausal osteoporotic women (from both Muslim and Christian communities) who participated in a vitamin D international epidemiological study. Vitamin D inadequacy prevalence (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) , 30 ng/ml) was 84.9%. 25(OH)D was negatively correlated with BMI (r 20.41; P<0.001) and positively correlated with educational level (r 0.37; P<0.001) and self-reported general health (r 0.17; P<0.01). No significant correlation was found with age and no seasonal variation was observed. There was no significant correlation between 25(OH)D and sun exposure index or vitamin D-rich food consumption. However, 25(OH)D strongly correlated with vitamin D supplement intake (r 0.48; P<0.0001). Muslim community participants had lower 25(OH)D levels compared with their Christian counterparts (P<0.001). They also had higher BMI, lower educational level and vitamin D supplement consumption and followed more frequently a dress code covering the arms (P<0.0001 for all variables). In a multivariate model, in Muslims, inadequate vitamin D supplements and a dress code covering the arms are the independent predictors of 25(OH)D inadequacy (P<0.001 for both variables). However, in Christians, the predictors are inadequate vitamin D supplements, high BMI and low educational level (P<0.001; P=002 and P=0.02 respectively). There is an urgent need to increase vitamin D supplement use in Middle-Eastern osteoporotic women, more particularly in those from the Muslim community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Saint-Joseph University, Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital, Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon. mhcyared@terra.net.lb
authors.forename: Marie-Hélène
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gannagé-Yared
authors.forename: Ghassan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maalouf
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khalife
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Challita
authors.forename: Yasser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaghi
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ziade
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chalfoun
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norquist
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chandler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002835:Christianity; D003020:Clothing; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D