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Vitamin D deficiency: a concern in premenopausal Bangladeshi women of two socio-economic groups in rural and urban region

Abstract

Objective: The study was designed to evaluate the vitamin D status in women of different physiological status of two socio-economic groups in Bangladesh.

Design: A cross-sectional study, using serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase activity.

Setting: Two regions of Bangladesh. The Dhaka city area and west region of Nandail (Betagair Union), Mymensingh.

Subjects: Representative subjects of two groups (low socio-economic group=group L, n=99; and high socio-economic group=group H, n=90) of Bangladeshi women aged 16–40 y. About 87% of the subjects were housewives and the rest, 13%, were distributed among other different professions. Each group comprised of three sub-groups (non-pregnant non-lactating=1, pregnant=2, and lactating=3).

Results: The influence of socio-economic status and physiological status on serum 25-OHD concentration (P=0.038, P=0.015, respectively), serum calcium concentration (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively) and alkaline phosphatase activity (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively) were observed. The distribution of serum 25-OHD concentration in both groups was shifted overall toward the lower limit of the normal range. Seventeen percent of women in group L and 12% of women in group H had serum 25-OHD concentration <25 nmol/l. Hypovitaminosis D (serum 25-OHD concentration ≤ 37.5 nmol/l) was observed in 50% of subjects in group L and 38% of subjects in group H, respectively. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis was higher in lactating subjects of the groups L and H (63 and 46%, respectively) than in the other sub-groups in the same group.

Conclusions: The results of the study suggested that women in Bangladesh were at risk of hypovitaminosis D and lactation was an additional risk factor in low income groups. The situation may increase the risk of bone loss.

Sponsorship: The study was supported by the Academy of Finland, University of Helsinki and NorFa, Norway.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Marika Hollmén, laboratory assistant, Division of Nutrition, University of Helsinki, for excellent technical assistance. The authors also express their sincere appreciation to the field workers, nurses and participants of this study. The study was funded by the Academy of Finland, University of Helsinki and NorFa, Norway.

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Correspondence to C Lamberg-Allardt.

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Islam, M., Lamberg-Allardt, C., Kärkkäinen, M. et al. Vitamin D deficiency: a concern in premenopausal Bangladeshi women of two socio-economic groups in rural and urban region. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 51–56 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601284

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