Medical Journal of Babylon (Jan 2020)
Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency and its correlate with overweight and obesity in community-dwelling old adults
Abstract
Background: Vitamin D has different biological actions in the body. Vitamin D has the pleiotropic effects in multiple organ systems, and Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was suggested to be associated with overweight and obesity according to previous reports. Several interventional studies have examined the effect of Vitamin D supplementation on overweight and obesity. Objectives: the aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of VDD and its correlate with overweight and obesity in community-dwelling old adults. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included convenient consecutive sample of elderly people who attended the office of retired employees and the elders' home in Hilla City-Babylon Province–Iraq. The period of the study started from the first of January to September 2019, and a pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the participants after obtaining their verbal consent. The sample included (300) old adults of both genders; the serum level of Vitamin D was assessed by chemoimmunoassay method. The weight was measured in kilograms by using weight measuring balanced scale for all individuals, and height was measured (in centimeters) by using a fixed board in standing position without shoes, the head in the horizontal plane. The body mass index was calculated according to weight in kg/height in m2. Results: The study included 300 participants; most of the study sample had either insufficiency or deficiency of Vitamin D level. Obese and overweight elders in this study had significant low serum Vitamin D level (both deficiency and insufficiency of vitamin) as compared to the nonobese group; this difference was statistically significant P < 0.05. Conclusion: There was a significant inverse relationship between Vitamin D level and excess body weight in Iraqi old adults.
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