Vitamin D3 Deficiency and Body Mass Index in Females Living at a High Altitude Area
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- Category: Vol. 81, June 2013
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Vitamin D3 Deficiency and Body Mass Index in Females Living at a High Altitude Area,AML M. NADA and MAHA HAMMOUDA
Abstract
Objective: To assess the magnitude of vitamin D3 defi-ciency and the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and vitamin D3 serum level among females living in Abha, Southwestern of Saudi Arabia.
Patients and Methods: This study comprised two groups, who were recruited over the period from March to August, 2011. The study group included 78 females who were perma-nent inhabitants of Abha (A highland city), while the control group included 78 age- and body mass index-matched non-Saudi females who were residents of low-land areas. All participants in both groups were apparently healthy with no evidence of acute or chronic illness. Participants were divided into four groups according to their BMI. Serum Vitamin D3, parathormone, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured. Pregnant and lactating females and patients with diabetes mellitus, renal impairment or thyroid dysfunction were excluded. Serum vitamin D3 levels of q2Ong/m1) were considered as low.
Results: Serum vitamin D3 levels of all included females were low (8.57±4.35ng/mL). in There was significant inverse relation between BMI grade and vitamin D3 serum level (p=0.019 in the study group andp=0.044 in the control group). Secondary hyperparathyroidism was evident in 86.6% of the studied group with strong correlation with serum levels of phosphate (p=0.01) and alkaline phosphatase (p=0.019).
Conclusions: In the high altitude area of Abha, where females are used to cover their whole skin, vitamin D3 defi-ciency was evident in all the studied group of females with significant association with BMI grade. Hypophosphatemia and elevated alkaline phosphatase levels in patients with vitamin D3 deficiency are highly associated and indicative for development of secondary hyperparathyroidism.