Abstract
Vitamin D is important for bone health, and vitamin D deficiency could be linked to noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated risk factors among female migrants from Philippines, Arab, and South Asian countries residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We used a cross-sectional study to recruit a random sample (N = 550) of female migrants aged 18 years and over in the city of Al Ain, UAE. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations ≤20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L). We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. The mean age of participants was 35 years (SD ± 10). The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 67% (95% CI 60–73%), with the highest rate seen in Arabs (87%), followed by South Asians (83%) and the lowest in Filipinas (15%). Multivariate analyses showed that low physical activity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.59; 95% CI 1.98, 10.63), having more than 5 years duration of residence in the UAE (aOR = 4.65; 95% CI: 1.31, 16.53) and being obese (aOR = 3.56; 95% CI 1.04, 12.20) were independently associated with vitamin D deficiency, after controlling for age and nationality. In summary, vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among female migrants, especially Arabs and South Asians. It is crucial that health professionals in the UAE become aware of this situation among this vulnerable subpopulation and provide intervention strategies aiming to rectify vitamin D deficiency by focusing more on sun exposure, physical activity, and supplementation.
Highlights
Vitamin D deficiency remains a worldwide public health problem, affecting large proportions of the population in developed and the developing countries [1]
Using the US guideline for physical activity, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), we identified the proportion of participants reporting moderate-intensity physical activity for a minimum of 30 min on five days each week or vigorous-intensity physical activity for a minimum of 20 min on three days each week [25]
This study showed the extent of vitamin D deficiency among female migrants
Summary
Vitamin D deficiency remains a worldwide public health problem, affecting large proportions of the population in developed and the developing countries [1]. Vitamin D deficiency remains common in children and adults and the musculoskeletal consequences of inadequate vitamin D are well established. In utero and during childhood, vitamin D deficiency can lead to growth retardation and skeletal deformities including childhood rickets [2]. Vitamin D deficiency can cause osteomalacia, muscle weakness and increased risk of fracture [4]. The strongest evidence for the effect of vitamin D deficiency is related to skeletal disorders, low concentrations of vitamin D are associated with several non-skeletal disorders including cardiovascular diseases, several types of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, disorders of glucose metabolism, and a possible role in the recently emerging pandemic of COVID-19 [5–8]
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