Despite being close to equator and receiving sufficient sun rays, evidences revealed that Indians have severe deficiency of vitamin D (vit D) ranging from 41 to 100% in different geographical locations. Therefore, in this study levels of 25(OH)D (physiologically measurable form) along with other bone metabolism associated biochemical markers were determined in serum sample of 300 apparently healthy study subjects (rural) from Doiwala block of Dehradun district in the state of Uttarakhand. Demographic data was also obtained based on a structured questionnaire to establish an association between 25(OH)D levels and various dietary and socio-cultural factors. Results demonstrated that of all study subjects, 197 (65%) had 25(OH)D levels below < 12 ng/mL (deficient) and 65 (21%) had 25(OH)D levels between 12 and 20 ng/mL (insufficient) with all other markers falling within respectively established reference ranges. Further, in univariate analysis, gender, occupation (indoor and outdoor), education were independently associated with vitamin D status. Additionally, parathyroid hormone associated significantly with gender and occupation, while calcium associated significantly with gender, occupation and education. Lastly, regression analysis revealed that gender and occupation independently associated with vitamin D status of subjects. In conclusion, apparently healthy subjects showed considerable vitamin D deficiency thereby generating an urgent need for formulating and implementing better government policies for enrichment of vitamin D levels among rural adults of Uttarakhand in future.
Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-022-01048-6.
Keywords: 25(OH)D; Epidemiology; India; Insufficiency; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Association of Clinical Biochemists of India 2022.