TITLE:
Assessment of Vitamin D Status in Medical Students in Jazan University-KSA
AUTHORS:
Saif Elden B. Abdalla, Amani Mohammed Bukayli, Majd Dawood Abdu AL-Hakami, Fatima Mousa Maashi, Elaf Hussian Kamli, Muntaser Mohammad Fadoul Alhassen, Rania Khogli Elsiddig Khogli, Najah Yousuf Elmobarak Abdelmahmoud, Omnia Y. E. Abdelmahamoud
KEYWORDS:
Vitamin D Insufficiency, Medical Students, Sun Exposure
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.13 No.7,
July
11,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has recently been recognized in different parts of the world, even affecting healthy populations. The deficiency of vitamin D can lead to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Few studies have been done to evaluate the status of vitamin D in the medical community. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of this condition among a group of medical students and identify risk factors associated with it, besides comparing vitamin D status between male and female subjects in medical students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science of Jazan University between February 2025 to April 2025 on male and female students in Jazan University, Jazan City. Hundred apparently healthy medical students between the age group of 18 - 23 years were recruited based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A questionnaire form with details on age, weight, height, sun exposure, and consumption of milk. Approximately 5 mL of blood was extracted for the measurement of serum calcium, serum albumin, serum phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, fasting plasma glucose and vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D Results: The data from 50 male and 50 female students were analyzed. In 100% of the students, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in all students was 15%, 47% had vitamin D insufficiency, while 38% had sufficient vitamin D. The mean 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was 26.83 ± 12.60 nmol/L in males and 16.03 ± 8.28 nmol/L in females (P-value = 0.0001). Males had a statistically significantly higher body mass index as well as consumption of dairy products, while the consumption of seafood was significantly higher in females. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of exposure to the sun. Conclusion: The majority of subjects have Vitamin D deficiency insufficiency (47%) and relative deficiency (15%), while 38% had sufficient vitamin D. There is a lack of relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and dietary intake and long-term sun exposure. An urgent action has to be taken in order to prevent adverse consequences of low vitamin D and insufficiency in the young and healthy populations.