Abstract

Background: Vitamin D3 deficiency is highly prevalent in the population throughout the world and it's underestimated due to lack of screening tests. It's also associated with numerous diseases, including those characterized by inflammatory processes.
Aim of study: The study aims to examine the prevalence of vitamin D3 deficiency among young healthy females in Kerbala province. If we prove the high prevalence of vit D deficiency, we would consider writing a policy to the governmental bodies to start screening for Vitamin D3 deficiency and increase public awareness about this public health problem.
Materials and methods: This study was conducted at Al Zahra Medical Center, Kerbala, Iraq. The eligible candidates for this study were randomly selected; they were 305, 129 out of them were excluded due to having various medical issues and a further 96 excluded due to having anaemia; therefore, 80 final healthy subjects included in this study. Subjects selected from the patients and relatives attending the outpatient clinic during the period from Nov, 2015 to June, 2016, age ranged between (18- 50) years. Subjects interviewed and reviewed clinically, body mass index (BMI) calculated, Vitamin D3, creatinine, parathyroid hormone PTH, calcium, Alkaline phosphatase ALP, phosphorus and complete blood count were tested.
Results: The results showed that serum vitamin D3 level were significantly decreased in the selected healthy females (18.86 ±9.91 ng /ml). There is a significant differences were detected when the levels of serum Vitamin D3 were compared according to age, body mass index, skin pigmentation and place of residence.
Conclusions: There is a significantly low level of serum vitamin D3 in healthy female subjects in holy City of Kerbala province; High prevalence rate of hypovitaminosis is observed in spite of good sun light in Iraq which might attribute to the cultural habit and life style. Well-structured steps need to be taken by the governing bodies to tackle this health problem through primary and secondary care. Increase public awareness regarding adequate exposure to the sun, increase intake of food rich with vitamin D3 or use supplementations and screening for its deficiency especially in females in childbearing age. Key words: deficiency D3, vitamin D, prevalence

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