Effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin D status of Saudi children and adolescents
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accumulating evidence suggests an increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Middle East. In this context, we aimed to determine whether the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is related to degree of physical activity and su...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2012-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/12/92 |
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| author | Al-Othman Abdulaziz Al-Musharaf Sara Al-Daghri Nasser M Krishnaswamy Soundararajan Yusuf Deqa S Alkharfy Khalid M Al-Saleh Yousef Al-Attas Omar S Alokail Majed S Moharram Osama Sabico Shaun Chrousos George P |
| author_facet | Al-Othman Abdulaziz Al-Musharaf Sara Al-Daghri Nasser M Krishnaswamy Soundararajan Yusuf Deqa S Alkharfy Khalid M Al-Saleh Yousef Al-Attas Omar S Alokail Majed S Moharram Osama Sabico Shaun Chrousos George P |
| author_sort | Al-Othman Abdulaziz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accumulating evidence suggests an increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Middle East. In this context, we aimed to determine whether the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is related to degree of physical activity and sun exposure among apparently healthy Saudi children and adolescents, a little studied population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 331 Saudi children aged 6–17 years (153 boys and 178 girls) were included in this cross sectional study. Levels of physical activity and sun exposure were determined using a standard questionnaire. Anthropometry, serum calcium and 25-(OH) vitamin D were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All subjects were vitamin D deficient, the majority being moderately deficient (71.6%). Age was the single most significant predictor affecting 25 (OH) Vitamin D levels, explaining 21% of the variance perceived (<it>p</it> = 1.68 x 10<sup>-14</sup>). Age-matched comparisons revealed that for groups having the same amount of sun exposure, those with moderate or are physically active will have higher levels of vitamin D status, though levels in across groups remained deficient.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Vitamin D deficiency is common among Saudi children and adolescents, and is influenced by both sun exposure and physical activity. Promotion of an active outdoor lifestyle among Saudi children in both homes and schools may counteract the vitamin D deficiency epidemic in this vulnerable population. Vitamin D supplementation is suggested in all groups, including those with the highest sun exposure and physical activity.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:26:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85596ea04fa8475c9e1515b7137db4c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:26:38Z |
| publishDate | 2012-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-85596ea04fa8475c9e1515b7137db4c52022-12-22T03:25:21ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312012-07-011219210.1186/1471-2431-12-92Effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin D status of Saudi children and adolescentsAl-Othman AbdulazizAl-Musharaf SaraAl-Daghri Nasser MKrishnaswamy SoundararajanYusuf Deqa SAlkharfy Khalid MAl-Saleh YousefAl-Attas Omar SAlokail Majed SMoharram OsamaSabico ShaunChrousos George P<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accumulating evidence suggests an increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Middle East. In this context, we aimed to determine whether the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is related to degree of physical activity and sun exposure among apparently healthy Saudi children and adolescents, a little studied population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 331 Saudi children aged 6–17 years (153 boys and 178 girls) were included in this cross sectional study. Levels of physical activity and sun exposure were determined using a standard questionnaire. Anthropometry, serum calcium and 25-(OH) vitamin D were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All subjects were vitamin D deficient, the majority being moderately deficient (71.6%). Age was the single most significant predictor affecting 25 (OH) Vitamin D levels, explaining 21% of the variance perceived (<it>p</it> = 1.68 x 10<sup>-14</sup>). Age-matched comparisons revealed that for groups having the same amount of sun exposure, those with moderate or are physically active will have higher levels of vitamin D status, though levels in across groups remained deficient.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Vitamin D deficiency is common among Saudi children and adolescents, and is influenced by both sun exposure and physical activity. Promotion of an active outdoor lifestyle among Saudi children in both homes and schools may counteract the vitamin D deficiency epidemic in this vulnerable population. Vitamin D supplementation is suggested in all groups, including those with the highest sun exposure and physical activity.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/12/92Vitamin DSaudi children |
| spellingShingle | Al-Othman Abdulaziz Al-Musharaf Sara Al-Daghri Nasser M Krishnaswamy Soundararajan Yusuf Deqa S Alkharfy Khalid M Al-Saleh Yousef Al-Attas Omar S Alokail Majed S Moharram Osama Sabico Shaun Chrousos George P Effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin D status of Saudi children and adolescents BMC Pediatrics Vitamin D Saudi children |
| title | Effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin D status of Saudi children and adolescents |
| title_full | Effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin D status of Saudi children and adolescents |
| title_fullStr | Effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin D status of Saudi children and adolescents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin D status of Saudi children and adolescents |
| title_short | Effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin D status of Saudi children and adolescents |
| title_sort | effect of physical activity and sun exposure on vitamin d status of saudi children and adolescents |
| topic | Vitamin D Saudi children |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/12/92 |
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