Risk factors and prevalence of vitamin d deficiency among Iranian women attending two university hospitals

Abstract EN

Background : Several studies indicated that there is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Middle East countries.

Objectives : The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and assess some risk factors of vitamin D deficiency among women attending our clinics in Tehran, the capital of Iran.

Patients and Methods : Five hunadred and thirty-eight women aged 20-80 years were entered in this cross-sectional study from 2011 to 2012.

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were measured in all participants after recruiting their demographic and anthropometric data and past medical histories.

Deficiency was defined as levels less than 35 nmol / L and classified as mild (≥ 25 nmol / L), moderate (12.5-25 nmol / L) and severe (≤ 12.5 nmol / L).

Results : The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 69 % ; mild, moderate and severe degrees were seen in 10.4 %, 38.3 %, and 20.3 % respectively.

Analysis of logistic regression shows that age (OR : 0.96, CI : 0.93-0.97), menopause (OR : 0.44, CI : 0.21-0.99) and consumption of multivitamin supplements (OR : 2.67, CI : 1.4-5) were independent predictive factors for Vitamin D deficiency.

Conclusions : This study showed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Iranian women especially in reproductive ages.