Vitamin D Status and Contributing Factors in Patients Attending Three Polyclinics in Benghazi Libya

Abstract

Background: About one billion people in the world suffer from vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. The consequences of low vitamin D level include increased risk of some cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and type one diabetes, which makes it a crucial public health concern. In spite of the imperative role of sunlight in vitamin D synthesis, recent reports have shown that higher rates of hypovitaminosis in the sunniest areas of the world. Benghazi city is sunny most of the year; there is a lack of research on Vitamin D status in Libya. Objective: The purpose of this paper was to investigate the status of Vitamin D and the contributing factors among patients attending three out patient clinics in Benghazi. Design: Cross-sectional study with stratified random sampling technique was used to collect patients attending three outpatient clinics in Benghazi Libya between July 1st to September 30th 2016. Participants/Setting: All Patients attending Alkiesh polyclinic, Alfohyaht polyclinic and Yakeen Health Center were approached. 287 participants were recruited, baseline information and serum 25(OH)D concentrations were provided by 184 subjects; participation rate of 64% (58.8% females and 5.9% males). Statistical Analyses: Description and analysis of data were carried using SPSS version 21. Level of significance was set at p value < 0.05. Results: Reported vitamin D deficiency was 76.1%, insufficiency was 15.2% and Vitamin D sufficiency was 8.7%. Age, gender, BMI, pregnancy, consumption of dietary supplements (calcium, vitamin D and multivitamin), history of vitamin D deficiency, consumption of milk and oily fish were the predicting factors of status of Vitamin D among Benghazi outpatients. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is common in this part of Libya especially among females and in the older age groups and calls for community based intervention and prevention strategies.