Demographic evaluation of prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a district of central Haryana

Abstract

Background: Many studies show a high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency across various populations the world over. This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in a district located in central Haryana. Aim: The aim is to study the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in a district of central Haryana across various population characteristics such as gender, education, locality, occupation, and dietary habits. Materials and Methods: Healthy volunteers (n = 300) of either sex were enrolled and their fasting plasma samples were tested for 25-hydroxy Vitamin D (25 [OH] D) levels. Data were compiled as percentages and means across different population characteristics. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: A high overall prevalence (90%) of Vitamin D deficiency was observed in the study subjects. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of Vitamin D insufficiency between rural and urban subjects (P < 0.05) and among the subjects pursuing different occupations (P < 0.05). Conclusions: There seems to have a high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in the population of a small district located in central Haryana. Lower prevalence is displayed by those subjects who have greater opportunities for sunlight exposure, such as rural individuals, farmers, and housewives.