Vitamin D Deficiency Among Female University Students (18 to 25 years) in Spring

Introduction: In this study, the laboratory results of female university students whose vitamin D levels were requested were reviewed. Thus, it was aimed to determine the levels of vitamin D, as well as to classify it as deficiency, insufficiency, normal and preferred. Methods: The vitamin D levels of 92 female university students between the ages of 18 and 25 years who admitted to an outpatient clinic between April and May 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. Vitamin D levels were classified according to the criteria of the Endocrine Society. Vitamin D deficiency was accepted in individuals with vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL. Spearman's correlation test was used for statistical analysis. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean 25-hidroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level was 17.32 +/- 7.18 ng/mL. The frequency of deficiency, insufficiency, normal and desired 25(OH)D levels were 78.3% (72), 14.1% (13), 6.5% (6) and 1.1% (1), respectively. Conclusion: In this retrospective study in female university students, vitamin D deficiency was found to be frequent. In addition to other trainings, awareness raising and education are compulsory to exclude possible risks of vitamin D deficiency. Additionally, the development of health policies for vitamin D supplementation without laboratory examination in this population would prevent possible skeletal and extra-skeletal problems.