Vitamin D deficiency in Saudi patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine vitamin D status among Saudi patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) versus matched control group.


METHODS
Hospital-based cohorts of 165 SLE patients and 214 SLE-free volunteers were recruited at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2006 and June 2008. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were measured. Vitamin D sufficiency is defined as a serum level of 25(OH)D >75 nmol/L (>30 ng/ml). A level ranging between >50 to <75 nmol/L (>20 to <30 ng/ml) is considered as vitamin D insufficiency, whereas <50 nmol/L (<20 ng/ml) as vitamin D deficiency. Both deficiency and insufficiency are considered to comprise vitamin D inadequacy.


RESULTS
The prevalence of SLE patients with 25(OH) D inadequacy and deficiency was higher than in the control group: 98.8 versus 55%, 89.7 versus 20% (p<0.0001). Only 2 (1.2%) SLE patients had adequate levels of 25(OH)D compared to 96 (45%) of control group (p<0.0001). The mean serum levels (nmol/L) of 25(OH)D in SLE patients with vitamin D inadequacy and deficiency in comparison to the control group were 22.3 +/- 13.6 versus 44.5 +/- 17.5 (p<0.0001) and 19.1 +/- 9.5 versus 22.9 +/- 6.7 (p=0.0152). No significant differences were evident in female and male patients with SLE with respect to the mean serum levels of 25(OH)D and prevalence of its deficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D inadequacy is highly prevalent in Saudi patients with SLE. Vitamin D supplementation and its evaluation in the treatment of SLE should be considered.
Damanhouri
Laila H
LH
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. lhhd71@hotmail.com
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D