ABSTRACT
Background: Numerous studies have assessed the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among Saudi individuals and correlated depression and anxiety with vitamin D deficiency. However, studies have not looked at these factors in Saudi Arabia's Jazan medical students. The current study aimed to clarify the relationship between low vitamin D levels, depression, anxiety, and academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at Jazan university. The dependent variables were depression and anxiety, and their association with covariates, including sex, marital status, GPA, BMI, vitamin D level, and physical exercise, was evaluated. The 21-item depression, anxiety, and stress scale, which has been validated, was utilized. Results: Of 252 students, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 54.4%; anxiety, 62.3%; and depression 68.7%. Comparatively, more female students than male students were vitamin D deficient. Stress was found to be substantially related to vitamin D deficiency (p<0.001). Anxiety was also significantly related to vitamin D deficiency (p<0.001), wherein the students with anxiety had a considerably higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency than those without anxiety (84% vs. 32.5%). Similarly, depression was significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency (p<0.001), wherein students with depression were much more likely to get vitamin D deficiency than students without depression (86.7% vs. 27.5%)-no significant association otherwise with other variables. Conclusions: Stress, depression, and anxiety are associated with vitamin D deficiency. This finding highlights the importance of mental health promotion among medical students owing to its link to quality of life and academic performance.
ABSTRACT
Background: Dietary supplements are a term that refers to several products such as vitamins, minerals and high energy compounds. Using these supplements is very common among individuals in different communities. Pharmacists had important effect on the public health as they help individuals to choose supplements and provide them with information
Aim: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacists toward dietary supplements
Methods: This study is cross sectional, it was conducted on pharmacists in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia, using an online survey
Results: There were 500 pharmacists included in this study, 75.4% had good knowledge, 71.6% had positive attitude and 50.8% had good practice. Both of knowledge and attitude were significantly affected by age, experience years and level of education, whereas practice was significantly affected by experience years only [P-value.0.05]
Conclusion: There were good knowledge and positive attitude toward dietary supplements among pharmacists, however close percents had either good or bad practice