25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D3 DEFICIENCY IN HEALTHY ADULT MEN ATTENDING ISRA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Abstract

Serum 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol (25-OH-D₃) is a marker of both endogenous production and exogenous supply. The objective of the present study was to determine frequency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25-OH-D₃) deficiency in normal healthy males presenting at the Outpatient Department of Isra University. It was a descriptive study conducted at the Departments of Medicine, Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan, from September 2014 to March 2015. Methods: A sample of 180 normal healthy adult male of age 18–50 years was selected. Cases were selected through non-probability consecutive sampling according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Informed written consent was obtained from the participants. Biochemical analysis of serum 25-OH-D₃ was performed on ARCHITECT I 1000^TM system. Data were analysed using Statistix 8.1. Continuous variables were presented as mean and standard deviation whereas categorical variables as frequency and percentages. Difference between categories was measured by using Chi-Square test for goodness of fit and a p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 37.6±5.7 years. The mean 25-OH-D₃ was observed as 24.57±5.57 ηg/dl (CI 23.19–26.39). Normal, insufficiency, and deficiency of 25-OH-D₃ were noted in 4.4% (n=8), 6.6% (n=12) and 88.8% (n=160) of the subjects respectively. Vitamin D₃ as low as 7.13 ηg/dl were noted. Conclusion: There is high frequency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ deficiency in normal healthy male adults.