Vitamin D level and its determinants among Sudanese Women: Does it matter in a sunshine African Country?

• Published in: Journal of family medicine and primary care Vol. 8; no. 7; pp. 2389 - 2394
• Main Authors: Husain, Nazik, Badie Suliman, Ahmed, Abdelrahman, Ismail, Bedri, Shahinaz, Musa, Rasha, Osman, Hind, Mustafa, Ayda, Gafer, Nahla, Farah, Ehab, Satir, Ali, Ahmed, Mohamed, Osman, Mugtaba, Khalil, Atif, Agaimy, Abbas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-07-2019; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Complications and side effects; Demographic aspects; Dietary intake; Health; Medical research; menopausal state; Original; PHC; reproductive health; Statistics; Sudan; sun exposure; Type 2 diabetes; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency; Vitamins; Women; Women's health; Women's health services; Sudan; Women; menopausal state; Vitamin D; Sudan; sun exposure; Dietary intake; PHC; reproductive health
• ISSN: 2249-4863; 2278-7135
• DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_247_19

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide concern. The aim of the current study was to determine the vitamin D level and its contributing factors in Sudanese women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 251 Sudanese women attending Family Health Centers in Khartoum, Sudan were interviewed. Following the exclusion of confounding factors, samples from 190 women were analzsed. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D "25(OH) D" was quantified using competitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: Participants' age ranged from 18 to 85 years with a mean age (±SD) of 40.2 (±14.06) years. The mean (±SD) vitamin D level was 13.4 (±6.72) ng/ml, ranged 3.00-36.5 ng/ml and the median was 12.7 ng/mL. In total, 157 out of 190 (82.6%) had vitamin D serum levels below 20 ng/ml (deficient); of whom, 52 (27.4%) were in the age group 21-30 years (P value = 0.228). The correlation between vitamin D level and residence outside Khartoum, sun-exposed face and hands, and face and limbs in comparison with being completely covered were found to be statistically significant (p values 0.008, 0.023, and 0.036). Conclusion: This study displayed a high percentage (82.6%.) of vitamin D deficiency among women in Sudan, and this in part may indicate that sunshine alone cannot guarantee vitamin D sufficiency in the tropics. Family physicians in tropical countries should screen those with clinical presentations related to vitamin D deficiency.