title: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Zahedan, southeast Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies show a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Asia. Data regarding the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in southeast Iran are inadequate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Zahedan, a sunny area in southeast Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This population-based cross-sectional study was performed on 993 apparently healthy subjects. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH vit D), parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inadequate vitamin D status was diagnosed in 94.7% of the subjects (25-OH vit D <30 ng/ml). The frequencies of deficiency (<20 ng/ml), insufficiency (20-30 ng/ml), sufficiency (30-150 ng/ml), and toxicity (>150 ng/ml) were 85.2, 9.5, 5.3, and 0.0%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that vitamin D deficiency is common in the population of Zahedan. Based on our results, fortification of milk and the use of supplements is suggested in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kaykhaei
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Narouie
authors.forename: Abdolsamad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shikhzadeh
authors.forename: Homeira
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rashidi
authors.forename: Nezarali
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moulaei
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghavami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase