ABSTRACT

Aim: To compare the vitamin D status of two different socioeconomic group individuals for better understanding the factors essential to overcome vitamin D deficiency in Pakistan.

Study design: Cross-sectional analytical study

Place and duration of study: NHRC, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore 1st January 2019 to 30th June 2019.

Methodology: One hundred and sixty participants (40-60 years) further divided into two equal groups of urban residents and slum dwellers. After obtaining written consent, necessary information was received by questionnaire filling. Serum was tested for vitamin D3 levels in each participant.

Results: The mean age of urban residents was 47.2±6.3 years and of slum dwellers was 49.4±6.1. The mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels were found to be almost same for both groups as 39.5±16 and 37.5±12.7 respectively with p-value 0.592. The smoking status, skin colour (whitish vs dark), activity factor (sedentary vs active), sun exposure (2.55±2.13 vs 8.68±0.47), BMI (25.9±3.8vs 22.4±3.2) and vitamin D intake through nutrition (35±30 vs 7±6) were all significantly different between urban residents and slum dwellers.

Conclusion: It was observed that despite low nutritional vitamin D intake; the slum dwellers had equaled or insignificantly different vitamin D level than urban residents. They also had higher sun exposure and lesser BMI values than the other group.

Keywords: Vitamin D; Urban residents; Slum dwellers; Sun exposure