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Vitamins and plant ingredients

Determinants of vitamin D deficiency among undergraduate medical students in Saudi Arabia

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, pages 1151–1155 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The objectives of our study were to determine possible factors associated with low vitamin D levels in medical students.

Subjects/Methods:

A cross-sectional study was performed among 255 first- to fifth-year male undergraduate medical students of one of the major universities in Saudi Arabia. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured using electrochemiluminiscence. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results:

Majority of Saudi medical students (75.2%) had 25(OH)D levels <30 nmol/l, defined as risk for deficiency by the Institute of Medicine. Multivariate analysis showed that the odds of having 25(OH)D serum levels of ⩾30 nmol/l were seven times higher both in students who took vitamin D (odds ratio (OR)=7.2, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.8–29.9, P=0.006) or multivitamin supplements (OR=6.9, 95% CI=1.7–27.3, P=0.006) within 1 year. Students with a history of vitamin D testing >1 year before the study or moderate/vigorous physical activity (PA) had 4.4 (OR=4.4, 95% CI=1.7–11.4, P=0.003) and 2.7-fold (OR=2.7, 95% CI=1.3–5.3, P=0.006) higher odds of having 25(OH)D levels ⩾30 nmol/l, respectively. There was no significant association between 25(OH)D serum levels and average time spent outdoors per day (P=0.369) and type of clothing (long-sleeved vs short-sleeved; P=0.800).

Conclusions:

Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent in Saudi medical students. Modifiable factors such as vitamin D intake and PA could be targeted for intervention. Further studies with standardized laboratory measurements of 25(OH)D are needed to explore the role of vitamin D testing in behavioral change, which may lead to increased serum 25(OH)D levels.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by College of Medicine Research Center, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz Research Chair of Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    A A BinSaeed & A A Torchyan

  2. Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    A A BinSaeed, A A Torchyan, B N AlOmair, N S AlQadhib, F M AlSuwayeh, F M Monshi, F I AlRumaih, S A AlQahtani & N AlYousefi

  3. Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    A Al-Drees

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  1. A A BinSaeed
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Correspondence to A A BinSaeed.

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BinSaeed, A., Torchyan, A., AlOmair, B. et al. Determinants of vitamin D deficiency among undergraduate medical students in Saudi Arabia. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 1151–1155 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.286

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