title: High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Associated Risk Factors among Employed Women in a Sunny Industrial City.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D deficiency is a public health concern associated with the pathogenesis of several chronic disorders, particularly in women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate serum vitamin D levels and its deficiency and risk factors among employed women in a sunny industrial city.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, serum vitamin D levels, biochemical and hematological factors were assessed in 382 healthy employed women. Demographic information was collected using a standard questionnaire and data was analyzed by SPSS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean vitamin D serum level was 22 ± 19.8 ng/ml. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were 62 % and 12.94 %, respectively. Deficiency was more common among younger subjects (< 29 years old). 23.5 % of subjects had normal and 1.35 % had toxic levels of vitamin D. Maximum serum level was observed in part-time job employees (33 ng/ml), and the lowest in Media and Culture Organizations (15 ng/ml).Vitamin D deficiency was associated with the lack of sunlight exposure at home, and taking anti-hypertensive medications. The common symptoms in deficiency condition were history of hyperlipidemia, depression, weakness, fatigue, finger tingling, leg cramps, and body and muscle pain. Moreover, LDL-cholesterol serum levels were significantly higher in the vitamin D deficiency group, with a prevalence of 40 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency including depression, weakness, fatigue, tingling, leg cramps and body and muscle pain have been observed in more than 90 % after recruitment and treatment. Therefore, for improving the health and productivity of employees, a routine monitoring system for vitamin D and the other factors should be put in place.
authors.affiliation: 1 Internal Medicine Department, Baharbo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hassannia
authors.affiliation: 2 Microbiology Department, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: GhaznaviRad
authors.affiliation: 3 Center of Pathological and Medical Diagnostic Services, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture & Research (ACECR), Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vakili
authors.affiliation: 4 Microbiology Department, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: Sohaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.affiliation: 5 Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Abdolrahim
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rezaee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002947:Cities; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Iran; risk factors; vitamin D deficiency; women