VITAMIN D3 LEVELS IN TWO DIFFERENT ETHNIC POPULATIONS- A BIRD’S EYE VIEW ON SOCIOCULTURAL INFLUENCES

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VITAMIN D3 LEVELS IN TWO DIFFERENT ETHNIC POPULATIONS- A BIRD’S EYE VIEW ON SOCIOCULTURAL INFLUENCES

Journal Title: Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 79

Abstract

BACKGROUND The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency has steadily risen in last few years. Environmental factors like temperate climate, indoor lifestyle, diet prejudice as well as human behavioural patterns among ethnic groups significantly influence Vitamin D3 levels. In this study, we aimed to compare Vitamin D3 levels between two ethnic populations. Group 1 comprised of Islamic ladies who strictly adhered to purdah lifestyle. Group 2 was made up of matched non-Islamic ladies of lower socioeconomic strata with predominant outdoor labour work. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional comparative study. In view of financial and logistic constraints, the sample size was chosen for convenience; 50 Islamic women and same number of non-Islamic women who attended the female OP clinics at Government Villupuram Medical College were interviewed and eligibility ascertained. After obtaining informed consent, detailed physical examination was done and findings documented in standard case proforma. Their serum samples were collected and analysed for Vitamin D3 levels and serum calcium. The results were pooled and analysed using SPSS software version 20. Independent ‘t’ test was used to compare two groups’ age, BMI, Vitamin D3 levels and serum calcium variables to find out if there is any significant difference between them. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to derive relationship between BMI and Vitamin D3 levels. P value < 0.05 is considered for significant. RESULTS A total of 100 women were studied in the age group of 20 - 80 years. The mean age of the study group was 45.38. The Body Mass Index of Group 1 was 29.19 +/- 5.18 [Mean +/- SD], whereas in Group 2 it was 24.84 +/- 3.85; 82% of candidates in C1 were overweight or obese compared to only 48% in C2 [P < 0.001]. The mean Vitamin D3 in C1 was 22.35 +/- 6.89 and that of C2 being 25.51 +/- 7.47 [p < 0.05]; 96% of C1 candidates and 86% of C2 candidates had subnormal D3 values. There was a significant negative correlation between BMI and Vitamin D3 levels in C1 [r= -0.54, 2-tailed]. CONCLUSION This study revealed that the prevalence of Vitamin D3 deficiency was almost the same in two different ethnic groups of women. However, the magnitude of deficiency was much more in Islamic women. The strong negative relationship between obesity and Vitamin D3 levels was also ascertained.

Authors and Affiliations

Rajendran Subramaniam, Babu Krishnan

Keywords

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EP ID EP268062
DOI 10.14260/jemds/2017/1211
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