title: Vitamin D status in healthy Egyptian adolescent girls.
abstract: Over the last decade there had been growing evidence of high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency especially among adolescents. Inadequate sun exposure is considered a precipitating factor. Females who remain fully covered seem to be at greatest risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the vitamin D status in adolescent females in Egypt.   Seventy five healthy adolescent girls aged 14-17 years were recruited during the summer months. Anthropometric measures, calcium and vitamin D intake, sun exposure index, use of topical sun screen, and socioeconomic standard were all determined. Serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and 25 hydroxycholecalceferol (25-OHD) were measured.  Sixteen girls (21.3 %) had vitamin D deficiency, 18 were vitamin D insufficient (24 %), and 41 had adequate vitamin D levels (54.7 %). Both sun exposure index and daily sun exposure time were significantly higher in girls with adequate vitamin D levels compared to those with insufficient and deficient vitamin D. Exposure of at least 18% of BSA for at least 37 minutes/day is enough to achieve adequate vitamin D levels in a sunny climate as Egypt. Calcium intake was highest in girls with adequate 25-OHD, while there was no difference in vitamin D intake. Serum 25-OHD correlated positively with BMI, BMI standard deviation score (SDS), sun exposure index, sun exposure time, and daily calcium intake, and negatively with PTH level.  Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem among Egyptian adolescent girls. Inadequate sun exposure, possibly related to cultural/social factors influence vitamin D levels. Insufficient dietary calcium is another contributing factor.
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheta
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elsedfy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D