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Review
. 2018 Jan-Apr;25(1):1-4.
doi: 10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_73_17.

Vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabians: A reality or simply hype: A meta-analysis (2008-2015)

Haneen Al-Alyani  1 , Haifa A Al-Turki  2 , Omar N Al-Essa  3 , Fawaz M Alani  3 , Mir Sadat-Ali  3
Affiliations
Review

Vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabians: A reality or simply hype: A meta-analysis (2008-2015)

Haneen Al-Alyani et al. J Family Community Med. 2018 Jan-Apr.

Abstract

Background and objective: The objective of this systematic review was to determine from published data the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in the Saudi population.

Methods: An extensive and meticulous search was conducted for studies published in MEDLINE, EMBASE the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2008-2015), and the Science Citation Index published data from the Annals of Saudi Medicine and Saudi Medical Journal with the key words: Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and Saudi Arabians. The inclusion criterion was studies published during 2008 to 2015, and studies involving healthy individuals between the age of 18 and 80 years. Binary random- effect model was used to estimate pooled Vitamin D deficiency. Prevalence rates along with overall estimate were presented by forest plot. Heterogeneity test was used to assess the significance of heterogeneity among studies.

Results: The authors identified 26 potentially relevant articles, 16 of which met the inclusion criteria. A total of 20,787 patients were analyzed. Sixty-two percent (12,959) were females, and the rest were males. The overall Vitamin D deficiency was 63.5% (95% CI: 53.3, 73.7).

Conclusions: The currently available literature on the Saudi Arabian population suggests that the Vitamin D deficiency is around 60% and not 100% as indicated in some studies. The relatively small number of studies on the population and the different modes of diagnostic methodology used make the issue of correct figures of Vitamin D deficiency contentious.

Keywords: Deficiency; Saudi Arabia; Vitamin D; insufficiency; meta-analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Regions of Saudi Arabia from where studies were published
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of vitamin D deficiency prevalence
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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