Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the Vitamin D deficiency awareness and perceptions between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population.
 Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among the population of two emirates at the UAE: Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
 Results: Overall, 434 participants completed the survey. Majority of people were aware of phenomenon of Vitamin D deficiency, but only 21.4% of them knew that sunlight is considered the main source of Vitamin D. Moreover, less than half of participants check their Vitamin D blood level regularly and around 55% of them follow-up with their physicians after completing the treatment. High proportion of participant females spend <1 h outdoors (60%) and use sunscreen daily (55%) that cause higher prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among females than males (83% vs. 42%).
 Conclusion: This research gives some insights regarding the UAE population’s awareness and perceptions of Vitamin D insufficiency. Decreased awareness of sunlight exposure as a major source of Vitamin D, in addition to lifestyle, contributed to Vitamin D deficiency problem among the UAE population, in general, and in females, in particular.
Highlights
Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency become major health problem worldwide, in the Middle East and North Africa
Many researchers conducted that there showed high rate of Vitamin D deficiency these areas are sunny in most time of the year
More than 90% of people living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency in 2017
Summary
Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency become major health problem worldwide, in the Middle East and North Africa. More than 90% of people living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency in 2017. This percentage is expected to increase in the coming years [1,2,3]. Vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), is a vital fat-soluble vitamin that regulates calcium homeostasis and is essential for bone and muscle health in people of all ages It naturally presents in some foods as well as certain dietary supplements and is produced endogenously when sunlight strikes the skin which stimulates Vitamin D synthesis. The amount of Vitamin D active metabolites produced depends mainly on the kidney function and the degree of sunlight exposure [4,5,6]
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