Vitamin D Status among First Grade University Female Students

Abstract

The present work was carried out to study the vitamin D status among first grade university female students.125First grade university apparently healthy female youth who were attending Helwan University were conveniently selected. A written consent was obtained. They were subjected to: anthropometric measurements, Dietary assessment by 24 hours dietary recall, frequency food sheet, and laboratory evaluation of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. The energy and nutrients’ content were analyzed using the food composition table of the National Nutrition Institute.Food intake was also compared to the recommended dietary allowances by WHO/FAO.This result revealed that 53.0% of the participants were interviewed in autumn; of them 26.0% had normal serum vitamin D level, 62.0% had insufficient values and 12.0% had their results in the deficient range.40.0% of participants were interviewed in spring and their vitamin D results had nearly the same distribution. In addition to there was a significant correlation between vitamin D metabolic state and season of the year.This study concluded that there was a high prevalence of low vitamin D levels among a group of apparently healthy university undergraduate in Helwan University in Cairo, Egypt. There is an urgent need for public education about the vital role of vitamin D to minimize the complications of its deficiency.This study emphasized the need for further vitamin D assessment and interventions targeted at all people.