Impact of Nutritional and Environmental Factors on Vitamin D Deficiency

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D can be obtained through a variety of food sources; however, ultraviolet rays in the sunlight can convert a natural substance in the skin known as ergosterol to vitamin D. AIM: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors linked to vitamin D deficiency among a group of apparently healthy young male and female Tabuk citizens in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study that comprised a convenience sampling method of 350 male and female Tabuk citizens. RESULTS: The results indicated a generalized vitamin D deficiency and severe deficiency among the participants, where 74.57% of the population had vitamin D deficiency, and 25.43% reported vitamin D sufficiency. There was a significant positive correlation among the BMI, exercise, exposure to sunlight, vitamin D intake, and calcium intake with vitamin D status (r = 0.574,** 0.525,** 0.515,** 0.466 and 0.465** at p-value < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The present study indicates vitamin D deficiency to be relatively common even among the population of Saudi Arabia, a country receiving adequate sunlight. Also, Vitamin D and calcium supplementation can prove to be beneficial in correcting the deficiency. Moreover, the individuals at a higher risk of vitamin insufficiency, such as women, need to be educated on the health benefits of vitamin D and calcium supplementation.