Vitamin D status in a sample population representing urban youth

Vitamin D deficiency is clinically silent and affected individuals are at high risk for the consequences of unrecognized and untreated hypovitaminosis D. The cut off value to define low vitamin D status remains controversial. The objective of this study is to assess and interpret the vitamin D status based on the two different ‘cut off ‘recommended by US Endocrine society and Institute of Medicine(IOM) respectively in a sample population of young adults in urban area.

Fifty five apparently healthy young adults of 18 to 23 years age group were recruited in this study and their 25 hydroxycholecalciferol(25OHD), serum calcium, serum phosphorus and serum alkaline phosphatase levels were estimated. The study subjects were asked to furnish information regarding their dietary habits, lifestyle and daily sun exposure duration.

The mean±standard deviation(SD) value of vitamin Dfor the whole group in our study is11.03±4.96 ng/ml. Based on US Endocrine society classification, 94.54% of the subjects had vitamin D deficiency (VDD), 5.45% had vitamin D insufficiency and none were vitamin D sufficient. IOM classification based distribution showed that 78.18% had VDD, 16.4% had sub optimal levels and 5.45% of the whole group had optimum D levels.

Based on our findings, we conclude that reference ranges to define vitamin D levels should be established for our population. Also Government should take initiative to bring awareness among the public about vitamin D supplementation and food fortification as a preventive measure against hypovitaminosis D epidemic.