title: Effect of vitamin D deficiency on the laryngo-pharyngeal tract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the laryngopharyngeal tract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 38 human subjects were prospectively recruited, equally divided into two groups. The Vitamin D deficiency group defined as 25-OH<25ng/dl and the control subjects with normal vitamin D level defined as 25-OH>25ng/dl. The presence and severity of vocal tract symptoms was assessed using the Vocal Tract Discomfort score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in vocal tract discomfort score for frequency and severity between patients with Vitamin D deficiency and patients with no vitamin D deficiency (p value 0.272). However there was a significant difference in the mean frequency of burning, aching, soreness and lump sensation (p value<0.05) in patients with vitamin D deficiency compared to those with no vitamin D deficiency. There was also a significant difference in the means of vocal tract severity symptoms, namely for burning and aching between patients with vitamin D deficiency compared to patients with no vitamin D deficiency (p value<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects with vitamin D deficiency do not have a higher vocal tract discomfort score than subjects with no vitamin D deficiency. However the frequency and severity of certain vocal tract discomfort symptoms was higher and can be based hypothetically on the similarity in structure between the laryngopharyngeal complex and the musculoskeletal system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Abdul-Latif
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department, American University of Beirut-, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ghina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fakhri
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ghassan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dunya
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Doja
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarieddine
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Science, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turfe
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tabet
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon. Electronic address: sazar@aub.edu.lb.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood*; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Deficiency; Discomfort; Vitamin D; Vocal tract