ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is now recognised as a pandemic. The normal range of Vitamin D in the Arab countries is much lower than the international standards. Several Arab countries have published studies assessing serum Vitamin D levels among women--to date there is no national study assessing Vitamin D levels among Egyptian women. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to measure Vitamin D level among Egyptian women of childbearing age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 100 healthy adult females of childbearing age, who were attending a family medicine center in Cairo, Egypt. A validated interview questionnaire was conducted with participants, thereafter BMI and serum 25 (OH) Vitamin D levels were measured. RESULTS: The age of the included women ranged from 19 to 49 years old with a mean age of 34 ± 8.47 years. Only 39% of participants were employed and 61% were housewives. About 76% of participants were married, 20% unmarried and 4% divorced. Most of participants (82%) wore hijab; only 9% wore niqab and 9% wore no scarf. Only 44% of participants had normal levels of Vitamin D (Ë20-150 ng/mL). About 43% of the participants were Vitamin D deficient and 13% were Vitamin D insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent among Egyptian women of childbearing age. A routine monitoring screening for Vitamin D deficiency and Vitamin D health education are required to minimise risk factors among women of childbearing age.
