ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the levels of Vitamin D in apparently healthy population of Islamabad
Study design: A Descriptive Study
Place and duration: From March 2012 to April 2013 at Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad
Methodology: Two hundred and ninety nine healthy subjects were selected between the age of 10-85 yrs. Convenient sampling was done. Subjects with complain of bone pain, musculoskeletal or rheumatologic problems, pregnant and lactating mothers, smokers or alcoholics were excluded from the study. History was taken and Blood samples were collected and stored at -80[degree]C for estimation of Vitamin D levels in batches. Vitamin D level was determined by ELISA technique [Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay] after standardizing it and controls were run simultaneously. The data was collected and analyzed on SPSS version 17.Percentage was determined and Chi square test applied on data
Result: Vitamin D levels of 299 subjects were categorized according to deficiency and insufficiency criteria specified [Roche]. The study shows that 65.2% [n =195] subjects were deficient in Vitamin D, 26.09% [n = 78] were insufficient and only 8.7% [n=26] had normal 25 OH Vitamin D levels
Conclusion: The subjects in the population are suffering from hypovitaminosis D. The cause of vitamin D deficiency remains an area of concern, when availability of sunlight is adequate especially in asian population