Vitamin D status in health care professionals in Qatar

To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among health care professionals working at Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar. Between 15th January 2007 and 15th January 2008,340 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Each subject completed a diary to determine the duration of sunlight exposure, and vitamin D supplements. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25OHD], parathyroid hormone [PTH], calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, and albumin were obtained. Those with abnormal results were called for counselling. The mean overall vitamin D level was 11.7 ng/ml. It was lower in females [10.3 ng/ml] than in males [13.7 ng/ml]. Ninety-seven percent of all participants had a mean level <30 ng/ml. Eighty-seven percent had a mean level of <20 ng/ml. We concluded that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among health care professionals in Qatar is very high

Vitamin D deficiency in rheumatology clinic practice in Qatar

In order to assess the prevalence of vitamin-D deficiency in patients attending the rheumatology outpatient clinic at Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar, 360 consecutive patients [97 percent female] were tested for fasting levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium,, phosphorus, albumin and alkaline phosphatase. Two hundred and three patients [56 percent] showed vitamin D levels below 20 ng/ml from the results obtained it is concluded that levels of serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase are of limited value in predicting vitamin-D status. The difficulty of skin synthesis in heavily-robed women is discussed and it is concluded that hypovitaminosis D is frequent in such women and that routine assays of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone and vitamin D supplementation would be beneficial