Vitamin D deficiency in Malaysian adolescents aged 13 years: findings from the Malaysian Health and Adolescents Longitudinal Research Team study (MyHeARTs)

Nabilla Al-Sadat; Hazreen Abdul Majid; Pei Ying Sim; Tin Tin Su; Maznah Dahlui; Mohd Fadzrel Abu Bakar; Najat Dzaki; Saidatul Norbaya; Liam Murray; Marie M Cantwell; Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin; MyHeART study group

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010689

Vitamin D deficiency in Malaysian adolescents aged 13 years: findings from the Malaysian Health and Adolescents Longitudinal Research Team study (MyHeARTs)

BMJ Open. 2016 Aug 18;6(8):e010689. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010689.

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Population Health (CePH), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Faculty of Medicine, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
² Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Population Health (CePH), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ Family Health Development Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia.
⁴ Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<37.5 nmol/L) among young adolescents in Malaysia and its association with demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures and physical activity.

Design: This is a cross-sectional study among Form 1 (year 7) students from 15 schools selected using a stratified random sampling design. Information regarding sociodemographic characteristics, clinical data and environmental factors was collected and blood samples were taken for total vitamin D. Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression was performed on the data.

Setting: National secondary schools in Peninsular Malaysia.

Participants: 1361 students (mean age 12.9±0.3 years) (61.4% girls) completed the consent forms and participated in this study. Students with a chronic health condition and/or who could not understand the questionnaires due to lack of literacy were excluded.

Main outcome measures: Vitamin D status was determined through measurement of sera 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). Body mass index (BMI) was classified according to International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria. Self-reported physical activity levels were assessed using the validated Malay version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C).

Results: Deficiency in vitamin D was seen in 78.9% of the participants. The deficiency was significantly higher in girls (92.6%, p<0.001), Indian adolescents (88.6%, p<0.001) and urban-living adolescents (88.8%, p<0.001). Females (OR=8.98; 95% CI 6.48 to 12.45), adolescents with wider waist circumference (OR=2.64; 95% CI 1.65 to 4.25) and in urban areas had higher risks (OR=3.57; 95% CI 2.54 to 5.02) of being vitamin D deficient.

Conclusions: The study shows a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among young adolescents. Main risk factors are gender, ethnicity, place of residence and obesity.

Keywords: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH; SOCIAL MEDICINE.

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MeSH terms

Adolescent
Asian People
Body Mass Index
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise*
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Longitudinal Studies
Malaysia / epidemiology
Male
Obesity / epidemiology*
Prevalence
Self Report
Sex Distribution
Sex Factors
Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
Vitamin D / blood
Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*

Substances

Vitamin D
25-hydroxyvitamin D