VITAMIN D STATUS;

THE EPIDEMIOLOGY IN SARGODHA

Abstract

… Objective: Our primary objective was to estimate the vitamin D status among
both the rural and urban dwellers of Sargodha. Study Design: A cross sectional population survey.
Place and Duration of Study: 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. Methodology: 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. The test: 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. Results: 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).
Conclusions: 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.