Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that vitamin D has probable implications in overall health, and prevents different chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate vitamin D status in different age-groups in a Syrian community. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 390 consecutive blood samples from Syrian adults between 2 January 2018 and 31 December 2019. Data were collected from a private clinical biochemistry laboratory in Sahnaya, and analyzed for vitamin D levels. blood samples were grouped according to age, sex and season. Vitamin D levels (25OHD) were categorized into deficiency (<20 ng/mL), insufficiency (25-30 ng/mL) and sufficiency (>30ng/mL). While vitamin D levels were sufficient in 30.5%, they were insufficient in 35.4% and deficient in 34.1%. Of the deficient group, men were less likely than women to be deficient (9.0% or insufficient (11.6%). The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 36.4%, while it was 36.9% among those aged <65 years, 30.8% among men, and 34.5% among women. Lowest levels were in those aged 50-59 years 23.3 (± 12.9), and highest in those aged 70-79 years 30.2 (± 10.4) (p<0.05).Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were prevalent among the Syrian cohort, particularly among women and young adults.

Keywords

Vitamin D, deficiency, insufficiency