Vitamin D Status and its correlation with Parathyroid Hormone level among population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the relationship between vitamin D [25(OH)D] status and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in Saudi adults to determine the optimum 25(OH)D cut-off in the Saudi adult population. A total of 1093 apparently healthy Saudi subjects (720 women and 373 men) aged 50.7 ± 13.9 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Serum 25(OH)D, PTH, calcium and albumin levels were determined. The over-all prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency (<50 nmol/) was 42.5% (N = 464). The overall prevalence of severe 25(OH)D deficiency (<25 nmol/L) was 24% (N = 262). In all subjects, there is a significant inverse relationship between serum PTH and 25(OH)D (r = − 0.40; p < 0.0001), but no distinct plateau for serum PTH with rising of serum 25(OH)D levels were observed. Despite the lack of threshold, the rising trend in serum 25(OH)D levels had an equivalent gradual decline in PTH levels in both males and females (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the lack of optimum 25(OH)D cut-off in the present study may suggest a lower threshold for the Saudi population and the current definitions for vitamin D status overestimate the true prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia. Keywords: Vitamin D, Parathyroid hormone, Adults, Saudi Arabia