Hypovitaminosis D in Healthy Health Care Professionals: A Real Deficiency or Necessity of New Reference Value for Specific Population?

Authors

  • Rajendra Dev Bhatta Dhulikhel Hospital - Kathmandu University Hospital http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-9085
  • Nikita Pradhan Kathmandu university School of Sciences
  • Rojeena Gurung Kathmandu university School of Sciences
  • Prabodh Risal

Keywords:

health care professionals, hypovitaminosis D, risk factors, vitamin D deficiency

Abstract

Introduction:

Vitamin D, a steroid vitamin, has attracted noticeable interest of clinicians and researchers for decades because of its diverse array of biological functions. Various studies have shown that the level of vitamin D is low in significant proportion of healthy individuals. However, indoor workers especially health care professionals are not focused, particularly in Nepal. We aimed to measure level of vitamin D in apparently healthy health care professionals.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in apparently healthy health care professionals working at Kathmandu University Hospital in Dhulikhel, Nepal. Structured questionnaire including socio­demographics, dietary habits, and anthropometric measurements was filled in by the participants. Total serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D was measured by Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA) technique. Results were analyzed with t-test, Chi-square test, and Pearson correlation test.

Results:

Data from 64 female and 47 male were analyzed, mean 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was 8.81 ng/dl (SD = 4). Almost all (98.2%, n = 109) participants had vitamin D lower than normal where 72.7% (n = 92) were deficient, 24.5% (n = 17) were insufficient, and only 2.7% (n = 2) were having adequate level. Non-specific body pain was the only factor among all we studied that was significantly associated with vitamin D levels (p = 0.002).

Conclusion:

Hypovitaminosis of 25-hydroxy vitamin D was found to be very common (98.2%) in apparently healthy health care subjects of Dhulikhel Hospital. This may necessitate further research to redefine the biological reference value for our population.

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22502/jlmc.v6i1.173

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Author Biography

Rajendra Dev Bhatta, Dhulikhel Hospital - Kathmandu University Hospital

Lecturer,

Department of Biochemistry

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Published

2018-06-27

How to Cite

Bhatta, R. D., Pradhan, N., Gurung, R., & Risal, P. (2018). Hypovitaminosis D in Healthy Health Care Professionals: A Real Deficiency or Necessity of New Reference Value for Specific Population?. Journal of Lumbini Medical College, 6(1), 1–5. Retrieved from https://nepjol.info./index.php/JLMC/article/view/20425

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2018)

Section

Original Research Articles

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