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. 2004 Aug 25:4:38.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-4-38.

Vitamin D deficiency and causative factors in the population of Tehran

Sima Hashemipour  1 , Bagher Larijani, Hossein Adibi, Ebrahim Javadi, Mojtaba Sedaghat, Mohammad Pajouhi, Akbar Soltani, Ali Reza Shafaei, Zohreh Hamidi, Ali Reza Khalili Fard, Arash Hossein-Nezhad, Fargol Booya
Affiliations

Vitamin D deficiency and causative factors in the population of Tehran

Sima Hashemipour et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: There are multiple studies in different countries regarding the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. These studies showed high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Asian countries. This study tries to elucidate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its influencing factors in population of Tehran.

Methods: 1210 subjects 20-64 years old were randomly selected. 25 (OH) D serum levels were measured. Duration of exposure to sunlight, the type of clothing and level of calcium intake and BMI were quantified based on a questionnaire.

Results: A high percentage of vitamin D deficiency was defined in the study population. Prevalence of severe, moderate and mild Vitamin D deficiency was 9.5%, 57.6% and 14.2% respectively. Vitamin D serum levels had no significant statistical relation with the duration of exposure to sunlight, kind of clothing and BMI. Calcium intake in the normal vitamin D group was significantly higher than the other groups (714.67 +/- 330.8 mg/day vs 503.39 +/- 303.1, 577.93 +/- 304.9,595.84 +/- 313.6). Vitamin D serum levels in young and middle aged females were significantly lower than the older group.

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency has a high prevalence in Tehran. In order to avoid complications of vitamin D deficiency, supplemental dietary intake seems essential.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Histogram of Vitamin D serum levels in study population
Figure 3
Figure 3
Median, 5, and 95 percentile of Vitamin D in variable age and sex groups
Figure 2
Figure 2
Frequency of variable Vitamin D groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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