Objective: To assess the 25–hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and to compare vitamin D deficiency between male and female subjects in medical students.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physiology, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro from 1^st September 2018 to 30^th September 2020.

Methodology: One hundred healthy MBBS students were randomly enrolled. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D was estimated by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Serum calcium was estimated by an autoanalyzer.

Results: There were 54% females and 46% males. Most of the students were aged between 21 to 25 years (56%). The mean age was 20.79±1.55 years. History of suntan in past 12 months was noted in 54% and use of sunscreen in 34% of the students. 51% of the students had duration of exposure to the sun between 5 to 15 minutes. 50% of the students were taking 1 glass of milk daily and their (44%) BMI remained normal. The mean BMI was 22.34±3.23 Kg/m2. Most of the students (89%) were deficient of 25–hydroxyvitamin D where as 8% had insufficiency and only 3% had normal vitamin D levels. Serum calcium level was normal in majority 65% of students. The average level of serum calcium was 9.56±0.85 mg/dL. No linkage was present between 25–hydroxyvitamin D levels and gender, use of suntan¸ tanning booth and sunscreen, duration of exposure to the sun, quantity of daily milk serving, calcium and BMI (p>0.050).

Conclusion: Vitamin D insufficiency is highly predominant in both male as well as female medical students’ resident of the study area. There is a lack of relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and dietary intake and long term sun exposure.