Manal  Kassab, Ahed J  Alkhatib, AbuBaker  A, Ali  Shotar, Geir  Bjorklund, 
    Vitamin D Deficiency and its Associated Predictors among Patients Visiting Primary Health Care Center,
    Research Journal of Biological Sciences,
    Volume 10,Issue 4,
    2015,
    Pages 78-80,
    ISSN 1815-8846,
    rjbsci.2015.78.80,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjbsci.2015.78.80)
    Abstract: Vitamin D can be made through exposure to sun in the skin. About 90% of vitamin D is made in the skin through the stimulation of UV sunlight whereas the remaining 10% of vitamin D is provided through dietary supplementations. The study objectives were to determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency among a sample of patients who visited health center at Jordan University of Science and Technology and to identify predictors for vitamin D deficiency. This was a cross-sectional study and included 123 participants. Data was collected through a questionnaire and a blood sample was collected from each participant in case he agreed to participate in the study. Study findings showed that the frequency of vitamin D deficiency was 30.9% and vitamin D insufficiency was 47.2%. Gender was significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency (p = 0.000) and females were more likely to develop vitamin D deficiency. No significant associations were observed between vitamin D status and other study variables including blood group (p = 0.603), educational level (p = 0.156), monthly income (p = 0.344), sun exposure (p = 0.061) and family history of vitamin D deficiency (p = 0.653).
    Keywords: Vitamin D;vitamin D deficiency;vitamin D insufficiency;sun exposure;stimulation