title: Predictors of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in adult Bahrainis: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D has been reported to be common in different regions of the Middle East. The objective of the present study was to examine the predictors of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Bahrainis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood transfusion volunteers at a blood bank.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D, bone markers and other parameters such age, sex, season and clothing style in the 500 healthy Bahrainis were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the entire cohort the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 49.4% and the relative risk of vitamin D deficiency increased significantly by 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.7 and 1.2 fold with younger age group (P = 0.03), hyperparathyroidism (P = 0.01), low serum Ca (P < 0.001), warm and hot months of the year (P < 0.0001) and female sex (P = 0.002), respectively. In females the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 67.6% and the relative risk of vitamin D deficiency increased significantly by 1.1, 1.2, 1.2, 1.2 and 1.4 fold with younger age group (P = 0.04), hyperparathyroidism (P = 0.03), low serum Ca (P = 0.001), warm and hot months of the year (P = 0.001) and conservative clothing style (P = 0.04), respectively. In contrast, in males the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 31.2% and the relative risk of vitamin D deficiency was increased by 1.6 fold in warm and hot months of the year (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High prevalence of low circulating levels of vitamin D and the relative risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency observed in the present study suggest an urgent need for public health interventions including vitamin D food fortification in Bahrain.
authors: 1 Diagnostic Services, Al-Jawhara Centre for Genetic Diagnosis and Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, PO Box 22979, Manama, Bahrain.
authors: Jamal
authors: J
authors: Golbahar
authors: 1 Diagnostic Services, Al-Jawhara Centre for Genetic Diagnosis and Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, PO Box 22979, Manama, Bahrain.
authors: Nida
authors: N
authors: Al-Saffar
authors: 1 Diagnostic Services, Al-Jawhara Centre for Genetic Diagnosis and Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, PO Box 22979, Manama, Bahrain.
authors: Diab
authors: D
authors: Altayab Diab
authors: 1 Diagnostic Services, Al-Jawhara Centre for Genetic Diagnosis and Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, PO Box 22979, Manama, Bahrain.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Al-Othman
authors: 2 Department of Pathology and Laboratory, Royal Medical Services, Bahrain Defense Force Hospital, Manama, Bahrain.
authors: Abdullah
authors: A
authors: Darwish
authors: 1 Diagnostic Services, Al-Jawhara Centre for Genetic Diagnosis and Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, PO Box 22979, Manama, Bahrain.
authors: Ghada
authors: G
authors: Al-Kafaji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001445:Bahrain / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D