Vitamin D Status of Patients Visiting Health Care Centers in the Coastal and Inland Cities of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency is increasingly becoming a worldwide problem and is even more pronounced in the Middle East, especially among the women and children. 

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 2,129 subjects visiting the outpatient clinics for various reasons in the cities of Dammam and Al-Ahssa in Saudi Arabia. Total 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D levels were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. 

Results: Around 72% of the subjects in both Dammam and Al-Ahssa had vitamin D deficiency. The proportion of females with vitamin D deficiency was higher than males in both cities. Average vitamin D levels were also higher in males than in females and across all age groups. Average vitamin D levels in all subjects were statistically significant higher in Dammam than Al-Ahssa for 21-40 and >60 years age groups, this difference was even more evident between females in the two cities. 

Conclusions: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is very high in the current sample of Saudi population. The study also highlights the effects of gender and geographical location on vitamin D levels. This underlines the importance of implementing government programs to increase community awareness of vitamin D deficiency to modify lifestyle and increase sun exposure.