Prevalence of vitamin D and calcium deficiency among population of southern region, Libya

الملخص

Background: Despite the abundance of sunny weather in Libya, vitamin D deficiency becoming one of the most common health problems there. The consequences of low vitamin D levels include an increased risk of some cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, which makes it a crucial public health concern.

Objective: Our study aimed to study the prevalence of Vitamin D (D) deficiency in the southern region of Libya (Traghen City) and determine the relationship between the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and calcium levels.

Methods: A Cross-sectional study was carried out among 144 patients from private clinic laboratories in Traghen City, between April and July 2023. Vitamin D and calcium levels have been measured. Variables such as age and sex were recorded. Statistical analysis was carried out by using SPSS.

Results: A total of 144 patients were included in the study. Female participants were more than male participants in the present study (66.0 %, 34.0 %) respectively. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/ insufficient was found to be 54.2% and 27.1% respectively. Our findings indicated that the level of Vitamin D was significantly lower among female (69.5%) patients in comparison to male (24.5%). Low serum calcium levels were observed among the study population (71.5%). A positive correlation was found between low vitamin D levels and calcium deficiency (P= 0.0001).