ABSTRACT
Riyadh is a region of year-round sunny weather where milk is fortified with vitamin D and where women wear dress styles that cover the whole body or most of it and their outdoor activity is limited. This may produce variable effects on vitamin D synthesis and parathyroid hormone levels which in turn affect bone mineralization, increasing the fracture risk. To determine prevalence and degree of vitamin D deficiency in premenopausal females [19-49 years] presenting to a dermatology clinic. Cross-sectional clinic-based Quota sample. The Dermatology Clinic in Riyadh National Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Three hundred eighty six married adult females [19-49 yrs old] attending the Dermatology Clinic during April and May 2005, and who agreed to be screened. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-OHD], parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus. This study included 386 premenopausal women, most of them [293/75.9%] were veiled [using dress style that is black and covers the whole body], while 93 [24.1%] were not veiled [wearing black dress exposing hands and face], of whom 46 [49%] reported using sunscreen on exposure to sun. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 38.4% of veiled women, with a low serum 25-OHD: 35.2+15.7 nmol/L, compared with 60.8+20.4 amongst the non-veiled women/no sunscreen. Serum 25-OHD amongst the non-veiled women/sunscreen was also low [37.9+17.6] but higher than that in the veiled group. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent amongst sunlight-deprived female adults [veiled and sunscreen users] in Riyadh. Greater awareness of physicians and population about vitamin D and its importance for optimal health is needed. Increased dietary and supplemental vitamin D intakes are reasonable approaches to guarantee vitamin D sufficiency