Vitamin D deficiency and associated factors among Ajman University students, United Arab Emirates

Background: Although vitamin D deficiency has been studied in various populations, there are few data on its prevalence among university students in the UAE. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and to examine its correlates. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in Ajman University, UAE, studying healthy students. Measured outcomes included serum concentrations of vitamin D, body mass index (BMI), anthropometric data, lifestyle variables and nutritional status. Results: Two hundred forty-six students participated in this study. 81.3% of students were female and 98.8% aged between 17 and 25 years. Arab ethnicity (n = 225, or 91.5%) constituted the largest ethnic group in the study, 20.3% (95% CI [15.3%–25.4%]) had vitamin D sufficiency, 57.7% (95% CI [51.5%–64%]) had vitamin D insufficiency and 22% (95% CI [16.7%–27.2%]) had vitamin D deficiency. Multivariate model showed that serum 25(OH)D concentrations are positively correlated with prior consumption of vitamin D, and inversely correlated with daily attire and sun bathing. Vitamin D levels were not significantly associated with BMI. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were highly prevalent among students, and most common with sun-aversion behaviors. Prior vitamin D supplementation was found significantly associated with normal circulating 25(OH)D.