title: Vitamin D deficiency among healthy Egyptian females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D deficiency is becoming endemic in many parts of the world.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study vitamin D status in Egyptian females of different age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 404 females, who were categorized into group 1 (51 nursing females); group 2 (50 pregnant females); group 3 (208 females of childbearing age); group 4 (38 elderly females); and group 5 (57 geriatric females). Females completed a questionnaire regarding dietary calcium and vitamin D intake, sun exposure, and clothing habits, and performed laboratory tests including calcium, PO4, alkaline phosphatase, intact PTH, and 25-OH vitamin D levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median and IQR of vitamin D levels across groups 1, 2, 3 and 5 were in the deficient range, being lowest in groups 3, 5, and 1, respectively. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 72.6% of the nursing group, 54% of the pregnant group, 72% of the childbearing age group, 39.5% of the elderly group, and 77.2% of the geriatric group. Vitamin D was significantly higher in non-veiled females [23ng/dl] as compared to veiled females [16.7ng/dl]. Vitamin D levels with poor, fair, and good sun exposure were 14.1, 14, and 37ng/dl, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy Egyptian females.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Endocrinología y Metabolismo - Hospitales de la Universidad de Ain Shams, Egypt.
authors.forename: Raif M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Botros
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Endocrinología y Metabolismo - Hospitales de la Universidad de Ain Shams, Egypt.
authors.forename: Inas M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Sabry
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Endocrinología y Metabolismo - Hospitales de la Universidad de Ain Shams, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rania S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Abdelbaky
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Endocrinología y Metabolismo - Hospitales de la Universidad de Ain Shams, Egypt. Electronic address: dryara_eid@med.asu.edu.eg.
authors.forename: Yara M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Endocrinología y Metabolismo - Hospitales de la Universidad de Ain Shams, Egypt.
authors.forename: Merihan S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nasr
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Endocrinología y Metabolismo - Hospitales de la Universidad de Ain Shams, Egypt.
authors.forename: Laila M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hendawy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010758:Phosphorus; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Calcium metabolic disease; Déficit de vitamina D; Embarazo; Enfermedad metabólica del calcio; Enfermedad paratiroidea; Parathyroid disease; Pregnancy; Sol; Sun; Vitamin D deficiency