Vitamin D status; the epidemiology in Sargodha

ABSTRACT

Our primary objective was to estimate the vitamin D status among both the rural and urban dwellers of Sargodha. A cross sectional population survey. Individuals were selected from six different medical centers in the Sargodha city, Vitamin D measurement was done in Khan Lab Sargodha from January 2013 to June 2013. After an awareness campaign, healthy individuals and medical patients from six different clinics in Sargodha city were selected after excluding the diseases that interfered with the metabolism of calcium and vitamin D. The initial assessment involved an interview based questionnaire, at the clinic by the treating doctor. It recorded the information regarding age, sex, weight, residence, and co-morbid conditions like, DM, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and kidney disease and medications especially oral vitamin D supplementation. The physical assessments included height, weight record and blood pressure measurements. It was performed in Khan Lab Sargodha. Quantitative determination of 25-OH vitamin D was done from the serum by using competitive immunoluminometric assay on Maglumi 1000 fully automated chemistry analyzer. Out of total 100 specimens 46 were found to be having low levels of vitamin D levels. Insufficient levels [21-29 ng/ml] were present in 10 individuals. It was less than 10 ng/ml in 11, less than 5 ng/ml in 4, while 21 individuals were having levels between 10-20 ng/ml. Five individuals had levels more than 100 ng/ml. None of the individuals had level in toxic range. Out of 56 females 27[48.22%] had low vitamin D levels, while out of 44 males 19 [43.2%] were found to be having levels less than 30ng/ml. The median age of individuals having levels less than 30ng/ml was 37 years [14-57 years]. The relationship of high BMI and vitamin deficiency was statistically non-significant [p-value = .282]. Although the sample size is small, however our study reveals that a large proportion [46%] of studied individuals representing the asymptomatic general population is having low level of vitamin D. in order to address this public issue concrete measures need to be taken in order to prevent adverse consequences of low vitamin D levels