Vitamin D status of elderly outpatients in Saudi Arabia King Faisal specialist Hospital and research

الملخص EN

To study the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in elderly outpatients in Saudi Arabia data was collected from 42 consecutive patients (13 males, 29 females ; av¬erage age 69.2 years,range 55-96) attending the outpa¬tient clinic in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between August 1st and October 7 5,2004.

The data included sun exposure, dress code, skin complexion, medications, diagnoses, falls, calcium and Vitamin D supplementation, dairy product intake, and levels of serum calcium, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD), intact parathyroid hormone, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase.

Bone density was tested by central dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

The average 25-OHD level was 37.4 nmol / l.

Twenty-nine (69 %) subjects had moderate Vitamin D deficiency (25- OHD <50 nmol / l).

Eighteen (43 %) had severe vitamin D deficiency (25-OHD < 32 nmol / l).

The average intact parathyroid hormone was 48.8 pg / ml.

There was a negative correlation between 25 hydroxy Vitamin D level and parathyroid hormone (r = -0.33, p = 0.04).

Dairy product consumption by 24-hour recall averaged 246 ml of milk or equivalent/day.

Calcium and Vitamin D supplementation averaged 350 mg / day (of calcium carbonate) and 7 69 international unit / day respectively.

The average sun exposure was 34 minute / week ; most subjects reported almost no sun exposure.

The results suggest that the prevalence of severe Vitamin D deficiency (<32 nmol / L) was 43 % in elderly outpatients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with no difference between men and women.

The average intact PTH was high reflecting the suboptimal Vitamin D status of the group.