Objectives: In Kuwait, as in many Arab states in the Gulf region, there are limited data on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a nationally representative sample of adolescents and investigate factors associated with vitamin D status.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1416 adolescents aged 11-16 years, who were randomly selected from middle schools in all governorates of Kuwait. Data were collected from parents through self-administered questionnaire and from adolescents through face-to-face interview. Vitamin D was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Logistic regression was used to investigate the independent factors associated with vitamin D status.
Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 81.21% (95% CI 71.61% to 90.81%), while severe deficiency was 39.48%. Only 3.60% of adolescents were vitamin D-sufficient. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher among girls compared with boys (91.69% vs 70.32%; p<0.001). There was a significant inverse correlation between vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (Spearman correlation=-0.35; p<0.001). In the final model, gender, age, governorate, parental education, body mass index, vitamin D supplement and the number of times adolescents walk to schools per week were all significantly related to vitamin D deficiency.
Conclusion: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was noted among adolescents in Kuwait despite the abundant sunshine, which may reflect strong sun avoidance behaviour. Adequate outdoor daytime activities should be encouraged especially for girls. We call for locally tailored guidelines for vitamin D supplement in which girls should have a higher dose compared with boys.
Keywords: adolescents; kuwait; public health; school children; vitamin D.
El Badawy AA, Aboserea MM, El Seifi OS, Mortada EM, Bakry HM, Waly EH, Raafat N, Etewa RL, El Badawy SA.Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2014;84(3-4):173-82. doi: 10.1024/0300-9831/a000204.PMID: 26098481
Brouwer-Brolsma EM, Vaes AMM, van der Zwaluw NL, van Wijngaarden JP, Swart KMA, Ham AC, van Dijk SC, Enneman AW, Sohl E, van Schoor NM, van der Velde N, Uitterlinden AG, Lips P, Feskens EJM, Dhonukshe-Rutten RAM, de Groot LCPGM.J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2016 Nov;164:168-176. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.08.008. Epub 2015 Aug 11.PMID: 26275945 Review.
Mouratidou T, Vicente-Rodriguez G, Gracia-Marco L, et al. . Associations of dietary calcium, vitamin D, milk intakes, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D with bone mass in Spanish adolescents: the HELENA study. J Clin Densitom 2013;16:110–7. 10.1016/j.jocd.2012.07.008 - DOI - PubMed
Sharief S, Jariwala S, Kumar J, et al. . Vitamin D levels and food and environmental allergies in the United States: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2011;127:1195–202. 10.1016/j.jaci.2011.01.017 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Lucato P, Solmi M, Maggi S, et al. . Low vitamin D levels increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Maturitas 2017;100:8–15. 10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.02.016 - DOI - PubMed
Bahrami A, Mazloum SR, Maghsoudi S, et al. . High Dose Vitamin D Supplementation Is Associated With a Reduction in Depression Score Among Adolescent Girls: A Nine-Week Follow-Up Study. J Diet Suppl 2018;15:173–82. 10.1080/19390211.2017.1334736 - DOI - PubMed
Chowdhury R, Kunutsor S, Vitezova A, et al. . Vitamin D and risk of cause specific death:systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort and randomised intervention studies. BMJ 2014;348:g1903 10.1136/bmj.g1903 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Bjelakovic G, Gluud LL, Nikolova D, et al. . Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of cancer in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;366:CD007469 10.1002/14651858.CD007469.pub2 - DOI - PubMed
Riverin BD, Maguire JL, Li P. Vitamin D Supplementation for Childhood Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One 2015;10:e0136841 10.1371/journal.pone.0136841 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Swart KM, Lips P, Brouwer IA, et al. . Effects of vitamin D supplementation on markers for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes: an individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr 2018;107:1043–53. 10.1093/ajcn/nqy078 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Shaffer JA, Edmondson D, Wasson LT, et al. . Vitamin D supplementation for depressive symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychosom Med 2014;76:190–6. 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000044 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Bjelakovic G, Gluud LL, Nikolova D, et al. . Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of mortality in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;84:CD007470 10.1002/14651858.CD007470.pub3 - DOI - PubMed
Hilger J, Friedel A, Herr R, et al. . A systematic review of vitamin D status in populations worldwide. Br J Nutr 2014;111:23–45. 10.1017/S0007114513001840 - DOI - PubMed
Basatemur E, Horsfall L, Marston L, et al. . Trends in the Diagnosis of Vitamin D Deficiency. Pediatrics 2017;139:e20162748 10.1542/peds.2016-2748 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Garg MK, Marwaha RK, Khadgawat R, et al. . Efficacy of vitamin D loading doses on serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in school going adolescents: an open label non-randomized prospective trial. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2013;26(5-6):515–23. 10.1515/jpem-2012-0390 - DOI - PubMed
Kapil U, Pandey RM, Goswami R, et al. . Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency and associated risk factors among children residing at high altitude in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Indian J Endocrinol Metab 2017;21:178–83. 10.4103/2230-8210.196031 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
AlBuhairan FS, Tamim H, Al Dubayee M, et al. . Time for an Adolescent Health Surveillance System in Saudi Arabia: Findings From "Jeeluna". J Adolesc Health 2015;57:263–9. 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.06.009 - DOI - PubMed
Kaddam I, Al-Shaikh A, Abaalkhail B, et al. . Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated factors in three regions of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study. Saudi Med J 20172017;3818753:381–90. - PMC - PubMed
Mansour MM, Alhadidi KM. Vitamin D deficiency in children living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Indian J Endocrinol Metab 2012;16:263–9. 10.4103/2230-8210.93746 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Valtueña J, González-Gross M, Huybrechts I, et al. . Factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in European adolescents: the HELENA study. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 2013;59:161–71. - PubMed
Glanz K, Yaroch AL, Dancel M, et al. . Measures of sun exposure and sun protection practices for behavioral and epidemiologic research. Arch Dermatol 2008;144:217–22. 10.1001/archdermatol.2007.46 - DOI - PubMed
Al-Hazzaa HM, Al-Sobayel HI, Musaiger AO. Convergent validity of the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS) physical activity questionnaire. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2011;8:3810–20. 10.3390/ijerph8093810 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Taylor C, Lamparello B, Kruczek K, et al. . Validation of a food frequency questionnaire for determining calcium and vitamin D intake by adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. J Am Diet Assoc 2009;109:479–85. 10.1016/j.jada.2008.11.025 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Papandreou D, Rachaniotis N, Lari M, et al. . Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Vitamin D and Calcium Intake in Healthy Female College Students. Food Nutr Sci 2014;05:2048–52. 10.4236/fns.2014.521216 - DOI
Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med 2007;357:266–81. 10.1056/NEJMra070553 - DOI - PubMed
Vogeser M. Quantification of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2010;121:565–73. 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.02.025 - DOI - PubMed
Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al. . Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011;96:1911–30. 10.1210/jc.2011-0385 - DOI - PubMed
SfAHa M. Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Recommended vitamin D intake and management of low vitamin D status in adolescents: a position statement of the society for adolescent health and medicine. J Adolesc Health 2013;52:801–3. 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.03.022 - DOI - PubMed
Braegger C, Campoy C, Colomb V, et al. . Vitamin D in the healthy European paediatric population. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2013;56:692–701. 10.1097/MPG.0b013e31828f3c05 - DOI - PubMed
Vierucci F, Del Pistoia M, Fanos M, et al. . Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and predictors of vitamin D status in Italian healthy adolescents. Ital J Pediatr 2014;40:54 10.1186/1824-7288-40-54 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
González-Gross M, Valtueña J, Breidenassel C, et al. . Vitamin D status among adolescents in Europe: the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence study. Br J Nutr 2012;107:755–64. 10.1017/S0007114511003527 - DOI - PubMed
Vierucci F, Del Pistoia M, Fanos M, et al. . Vitamin D status and predictors of hypovitaminosis D in Italian children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study. Eur J Pediatr 2013;172:1607–17. 10.1007/s00431-013-2119-z - DOI - PubMed
Kassi EN, Stavropoulos S, Kokkoris P, et al. . Smoking is a significant determinant of low serum vitamin D in young and middle-aged healthy males. Hormones 2015;14:245–50. 10.14310/horm.2002.1521 - DOI - PubMed
Gordon CM, DePeter KC, Feldman HA, et al. . Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2004;158:531–7. 10.1001/archpedi.158.6.531 - DOI - PubMed
Dong Y, Pollock N, Stallmann-Jorgensen IS, et al. . Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in adolescents: race, season, adiposity, physical activity, and fitness. Pediatrics 2010;125:1104–11. 10.1542/peds.2009-2055 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Rockell JE, Green TJ, Skeaff CM, et al. . Season and ethnicity are determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in New Zealand children aged 5-14 y. J Nutr 2005;135:2602–8. 10.1093/jn/135.11.2602 - DOI - PubMed
Byun EJ, Heo J, Cho SH, et al. . Suboptimal vitamin D status in Korean adolescents: a nationwide study on its prevalence, risk factors including cotinine-verified smoking status and association with atopic dermatitis and asthma. BMJ Open 2017;7:e016409 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016409 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Zhang FF, Al Hooti S, Al Zenki S, et al. . Vitamin D deficiency is associated with high prevalence of diabetes in Kuwaiti adults: results from a national survey. BMC Public Health 2016;16:100 10.1186/s12889-016-2758-x - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Al-Daghri NM. Vitamin D in Saudi Arabia: Prevalence, distribution and disease associations. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2018;175:102–7. 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.12.017 - DOI - PubMed
Golbahar J, Al-Saffar N, Altayab Diab D, et al. . Predictors of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in adult Bahrainis: a cross-sectional study. Public Health Nutr 2014;17:732–8. 10.1017/S136898001300030X - DOI - PubMed
Mahdy S, Al-Emadi SA, Khanjar IA, et al. . Vitamin D status in health care professionals in Qatar. Saudi Med J 2010;31:74–7. - PubMed
Sulimani R, Mohammed A, Alfadda A, et al. . Vitamin D deficiency and biochemical variations among urban Saudi adolescent girls according to season. Saudi Med J 20162016;37:1002–8. 10.15537/smj.2016.9.15248 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Thalib L, Al-Taiar A. Dust storms and the risk of asthma admissions to hospitals in Kuwait. Sci Total Environ 2012;433:347–51. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.06.082 - DOI - PubMed
Holick MF. The D-lightful vitamin D for child health. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2012;36(1 Suppl):9S–19. 10.1177/0148607111430189 - DOI - PubMed
Al-Daghri NM, Al-Saleh Y, Aljohani N, et al. . Vitamin D Deficiency and Cardiometabolic Risks: A Juxtaposition of Arab Adolescents and Adults. PLoS One 2015;10:e0131315 10.1371/journal.pone.0131315 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Yao TC, Tu YL, Chang SW, et al. . Suboptimal vitamin D status in a population-based study of Asian children: prevalence and relation to allergic diseases and atopy. PLoS One 2014;9:e99105 10.1371/journal.pone.0099105 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Wortsman J, Matsuoka LY, Chen TC, et al. . Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72:690–3. 10.1093/ajcn/72.3.690 - DOI - PubMed
Walker GE, Ricotti R, Roccio M, et al. . Pediatric obesity and vitamin D deficiency: a proteomic approach identifies multimeric adiponectin as a key link between these conditions. PLoS One 2014;9:e83685 10.1371/journal.pone.0083685 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
Tsuji K, Maeda T, Kawane T, et al. . Leptin stimulates fibroblast growth factor 23 expression in bone and suppresses renal 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 synthesis in leptin-deficient mice. J Bone Miner Res 2010;25:1711–23. 10.1002/jbmr.65 - DOI - PubMed
O’Connor TM, Yang SJ, Nicklas TA. Beverage intake among preschool children and its effect on weight status. Pediatrics 2006;118:e1010–e1018. 10.1542/peds.2005-2348 - DOI - PubMed
Scragg R, Holdaway I, Jackson R, et al. . Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and its relation to physical activity and other heart disease risk factors in the general population. Ann Epidemiol 1992;2:697–703. 10.1016/1047-2797(92)90014-H - DOI - PubMed
Aboraia AS, Makowski B, Bahja A, et al. . Synthesis and CYP24A1 inhibitory activity of (E)-2-(2-substituted benzylidene)- and 2-(2-substituted benzyl)-6-methoxy-tetralones. Eur J Med Chem 2010;45:4427–34. 10.1016/j.ejmech.2010.07.001 - DOI - PubMed