نقص فيتامين د بين الطالبات في جامعة كربلاء وعلاقته بمؤشر كتلة الجسم وعوامل أخرى

Vitamin D Deficiency among Female Students in the University of Kerbala and its Association with body mass index and other factors

Abstract

Vitamin D (vit D) deficiency is quite common among Iraqi females, and is gaining increasing concern. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a wide range of human conditions and illnesses, such as metabolic, musculoskeletal, cancer, autoimmune, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as others. While the literature indicates the association of Vitamin D deficiency with lower weight, there is no evidence that it might cause an increase in weight, particularly among young females. This study aims to assess the association of vitamin D deficiency among female university students with body mass index (BMI) and selected other factors.
Objective: To assess the relation of vitamin D deficiency with obesity among female university students and investigate other co-factors such as sun exposure, dietary habits, and physical activity that correlate with it.
Subjects and Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study was performed in the University of Kerbala from April to May, 2024. Participants comprised 200 female students, selected from three colleges (College of Nursing, College of Applied Sciences, and Engineering). Blood samples from those who consented to participate and completed the questionnaire were tested for serum 25(OH) D concentrations. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied for group comparisons, while Spearman’s rank correlation was used to assess relationships between variables. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The Students mean BMI of 25.38 ± 5.60 kg/m². Serum 25(OH) D levels showed 22.5% sufficient and 64% deficient and insufficient 13.5% vitamin D levels. Statistically significant differences were found in vitamin D levels among students from different colleges (p=0.036), with Engineering students showing the lowest levels. No association was found between vitamin D and BMI. Sun exposure duration was positively correlated with higher vitamin D levels (p=0.015). A healthy diet was also positively correlated with higher vitamin D levels.
Conclusion: More than 60% of participants have a vitamin D deficiency. There is no significant correlation between the high BMI of university-age females and vitamin D deficiency. An education program that encourages outdoor activities, Sun exposure, and a vitamin D-rich, healthy diet is highly recommended.