title: Vitamin D status among adults in the Aegean region of Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D is a lipid-soluble hormone found in certain foods and synthesized from precursors in the skin when exposed to ultraviolet light. Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone metabolism and many cellular and immunological processes and low levels have been associated with several chronic and infectious diseases. Vitamin D status is assessed by measuring the concentration of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Vitamin D deficiency is reported to be common worldwide, but little has been reported about the vitamin D status of adults in Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, we determined the prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in adults residing in a city in the Aegean region of Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted on a representative sample of adults over 20 years old in a non-coastal city at the end of the winter season. Of the 209 households selected by random sampling, 8.6% (n = 18) were unoccupied and 21.5% (n = 45) refused to participate. Blood samples were taken and questions about medical history, vitamin supplementation, sunlight exposure, and dietary calcium and vitamin D intake were asked in face-to-face interviews of 391 adults living in the remaining households.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 16.9 ± 13.09 ng/mL, with 74.9% of the subjects having 25(OH)D deficiency (<20 ng/mL), 13.8% having insufficiency (20-29.99 ng/mL), and 11.3% of the subjects having sufficient 25(OH)D (≥ 30 ng/mL) levels. 25(OH)D deficiency was more common among females (78.7%) than males (66.4%, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adults living in an urban, non-coastal setting in Turkey have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University Medical Faculty, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Manisa, Turkey. zhekimsoy@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hekimsoy
authors.forename: Gönül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dinç
authors.forename: Sabriye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kafesçiler
authors.forename: Ece
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onur
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Güvenç
authors.forename: Tümer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Feyzullah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Güçlü
authors.forename: Bilgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozmen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D