Vitamin D level in a sample of Egyptian Females of Childbearing Age Attending a Family Medicine Center

Vitamin D level in a sample of Egyptian Females of Childbearing Age Attending a Family Medicine Center

 

Maivel Emile Soby Gerges, Ghada Essam Aldin Amin, Fady Andraous, Diaa Marzouk Abdel Hamid, Mohamed Farouk Allam

 

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

 

The International Journal of Clinical Practice. First published: 29 September 2020

https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.13738

 

ABSTRACT

Background. Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a pandemic. The normal range of Vitamin D in the Arab countries is much lower than the international standards. Several Arab countries have published studies assessing serum Vitamin D levels among women – to date there is no national study assessing Vitamin D levels among Egyptian women.

Objective. The aim of the study is to measure Vitamin D level among Egyptian women of childbearing age.

Patients and Methods. We included 100 healthy adult females of childbearing age, who were attending a Family Medicine Center in Cairo, Egypt. A validated interview questionnaire was conducted with participants, thereafter BMI and serum 25 (OH) Vitamin D levels were measured.

Results. The age of the included women ranged from 19 years to 49 years old with a mean age of 34 ± 8.47 years. Only 39% of participants were employed and 61% were housewives. 76% of participants were married, 20% unmarried and 4% divorced. Most of participants (82%) wore hijab; only 9% wore niqab and 9% wore no scarf. Only 44% of participants had normal levels of Vitamin D (˃20‐150 ng/ml). 43% of the participants were Vitamin D deficient and 13% were Vitamin D insufficiency.

Conclusion. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent among Egyptian women of childbearing age. A routine monitoring screening for Vitamin D deficiency and Vitamin D health education are required to minimize risk factors among women of childbearing age.

Keywords: Vitamin D, Deficiency, Egypt, Women, Family Medicine Center.

The International Journal of Clinical Practice. First published: 29 September 2020

 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijcp.13738