title: Vitamin D status in health care professionals in Qatar.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among health care professionals working at Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 15th January 2007 and 15th January 2008, 340 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Each subject completed a diary to determine the duration of sunlight exposure, and vitamin D supplements. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, and albumin were obtained. Those with abnormal results were called for counselling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean overall vitamin D level was 11.7 ng/ml. It was lower in females (10.3 ng/ml) than in males (13.7 ng/ml). Ninety-seven percent of all participants had a mean level <30 ng/ml. Eighty-seven percent had a mean level of <20 ng/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among health care professionals in Qatar is very high.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Section, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar. mahdysalah@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahdy
authors.forename: Samar A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Emadi
authors.forename: Izzat A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Khanjar
authors.forename: Mohammed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hammoudeh
authors.forename: Housam A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Sarakbi
authors.forename: AbdulRahim M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Siam
authors.forename: Mohammed Osman
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D011780:Qatar / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D