Abstract
BackgroundVitamin D deficiency is a global health problem, it is assessed by measuring serum 25-hydroxivitamin D (25(OH) D), nevertheless epidemiological data for many countries remains underreported.ObjectivesTo study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency throughout the calendar year in a large cohort recruited ina multiethnic Transcarpathian region of Ukraine.MethodsIn this retrospective study 25(OH) D serum concentration was measured during all 12 months of the year 2019 by electrochemoluminescent assay on the automatic analyzer Cobas e411 in 1823 subjects, including both children and adults (1551 females (85.03%) and 273 males (14.97%)).ResultsThe mean 25(OH) D concentration in adults demonstrates significantly lower levels compared to children (22.67 ± 8.63 ng/ml vs. 26.00 ± 10.72 ng/ml respectively, p < 0.001). Adult women expressed significantly lower mean annual serum 25 (OH) D concentrations in comparison to men (22.29 ± 8.46 ng/ml vs. 25.75 ± 9.38 ng/ml respectively, p < 0.001). In contrast, children did not show a significant difference between sexes (girls 24.98 ± 10.38 ng/ml vs. boys 27.01 ± 11.01 ng/ml, p = 0.2003). In the winter months, 25(OH) D levels fell below 20 ng/ml in 51,74% of adult population of Thranscarpathia, and in 12.91%, − below 12 ng/ml.ConclusionsThe results of this study contradict the previously reported evaluations of the vitamin D levels in Ukraine which were assessed by measuring serum 25(OH) D. Specifically, only approximately half of the studied population is vitamin D deficient during winter season. This study features the most representative sample size in Ukraine to date.
Highlights
Vitamin D is an important fat-soluble vitamin that acts as a steroid prohormone playing a key role in bone mineralization
The results of this study contradict the previously reported evaluations of the vitamin D levels in Ukraine which were assessed by measuring serum 25(OH) D
Our data significantly differs from the results obtained by the other study discussed here; our results suggest a lesser prevalence of vitamin D deficiency than was thought previously
Summary
Vitamin D is an important fat-soluble vitamin that acts as a steroid prohormone playing a key role in bone mineralization. It is synthesized in skin under UV light exposure and is ingested in food [1]. Despite the vast knowledge amassed on the topic, the concentration of 25 (OH) D that indicates vitamin D deficiency in the human body still remains controversial. The National Academy of Medicine (USA) [5] considers levels of 25(OH) D below 12 ng/ml to be a sign of vitamin D deficiency, while The Endocrine Society Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem, it is assessed by measuring serum 25-hydroxivitamin D (25(OH) D), epidemiological data for many countries remains underreported
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