Vitamin D levels in healthy men in eastern Saudi Arabia

Studies in 1980s and 1990s indicated that vitamin D levels in the ethnic Saudi Arabian population were low but no studies since that time evaluated vitamin D levels among healthy young or middle-aged Saudi men. Thus, we assessed the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25OHD] among healthy Saudi Arabian men living in the Eastern Province. One hundred males aged 25-35 years [the age range of peak bone mass] and 100 males aged 50 years or older were randomly selected and evaluated clinically, including measurement of serum calcium, parathyroid hormone [PTH] and serum 25 OHD levels. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum level of 25 OHD of 20 ng/mL and <30 ng/mL and normal >/= 30 ng/mL. The mean [SD] age of subjects in the younger age group was 28.2 [4.5] years. Twenty-eight [28%] had low 25OHD levels; 10 [10%] subjects were vitamin D deficient with a mean level of 16.6 [3.4] ng/mL and 18[18%] were vitamin D insufficient with a mean level of 25.4 [2.7] ng/mL. In the older age group, the mean age was 59.4 [15.6] years and 37 [37%] had low 25 OHD; 12[12%] subjects were deficient with a mean 25OHD level of 16.7 [3.4] ng/mL and 25[25%] were insufficient with a mean 25OHD level of 25.3 [3.3] ng/mL. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy Saudi men is between 28% to 37%. Vitamin D deficiency among young and middle age Saudi Arabian males could lead to serious health consequences if the issue is not urgently addressed

Bone mineral density measurement in Saudi Arabian women: a radiologist perspective

Analyze the Bone Mineral Density [BMD] measurement of Saudi Arabian Women, who were referred to the radiology department for the diagnoses of osteoporosis. The BMD measurement of Saudi Arabian Women over the age of 25 years between April 2002 to September 2004 was done using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry [DEXA] machine using T-score and Z-score for [Asian Women] as provided by Hologic Inc. Anormal BMD was taken up to-l SD and osteoporosis if SD was >-2.5. Two sites; Lumbar spine and upper femur was the target site for measurement. An average of [T] Score and [Z] Score of lumbar spine and upper femur was taken. Out of 926 Saudi women who were analyzed 117 belonged to age group of 25-49 years [mean 39.5], this was assigned as Group I. Postmenopausal women in the age range of 50-70 years [mean 58.2] was assigned Group II. Group III women were over the age of 71 years. In Group II, 60.9 percent were osteoporotic with the mean T-score of -3.1 SD. Women in group II were divided into 2 sub-groups those within 5 years of menopause [45 1 women] and those with more than 6 years after menopause [162 women]. BMD of women in the first 5 years of menopause was statistically significant of p<.001 as compared to those after 6 years of menopause. The BMD of the spine was much lower than that of the femur 0.642 +/- +/- .162 to 0.687 +/- +/- .112 a p <.05. Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women is common among Saudi women on the basis of BMD measurement. A national baseline value should be assessed and used for all analysis. The time is right to interfere and make changes in the healthcare system to prevent osteoporosis, make early diagnosis, and treat PMO before it becomes an epidemic