Cigarette smoking and serum level of Vitamin D among older adults

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D has different biological actions in the body. Vitamin D has pleiotropic effects in multiple organ systems. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to have an inverse relationship with tobacco smoking. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of Vitamin D level and its correlates with tobacco smoking among old adults in Al-Hilla city, Babylon Province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of old adults, both males and females, who were selected from dwellers in community of Al-Hilla city, Babylon Province, Iraq, during the period from January to August 2019. A pretested questionnaire was used for data collection adopted from previous standard national surveys and studies, and the questionnaire included information about sociodemographic characteristics and cigarette smoking habit. Results: The study included 300 participants, and most of them had either insufficiency or deficiency of Vitamin D level (84%). Tobacco cigarette smoking elders had a significantly low serum Vitamin D level (both deficiency and insufficiency) as compared to the nonsmoker group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There was a significant inverse relationship between Vitamin D level and tobacco cigarette smoking.

Keywords

• iraq
• old adults
• tobacco smoking
• vitamin d levels