Low referral rate of lebanese males for vitamin D testing

Yasser Yaghi; Hassan Kazma; Wajih Zaiour; Ahmad Abdallah; Mohammad El Zaatari

doi:10.1530/boneabs.3.PP284

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Bone Abstracts (2014) 3 PP284 | DOI: 10.1530/boneabs.3.PP284

ECTS2014 Poster Presentations Osteoporosis: pathophysiology and epidemiology (38 abstracts)

Low referral rate of lebanese males for vitamin D testing

Yasser Yaghi , Hassan Kazma , Wajih Zaiour , Ahmad Abdallah & Mohammad El Zaatari

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Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon.

Aim: Low serum vitamin D levels are common in sunny Lebanon. Vitamin D is essential component of osteoporosis management strategies. This study surveys the referral rate of Lebanese males for vitamin D testing.

Subjects and methods: A 13 000 Lebanese subjects included in this study were coming for routine check-ups. Patients on renal dialysis and cancer patients on chemotherapy were excluded. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D is considered the best indicator of vitamin D status. Insufficiency refers to those who have vitamin D blood levels lower than 30 ng/ml.

Results: Gender, age distribution and mean vitamin D levels.

Conclusions: A low referral rate of males was noticed across all age groups with significant proportion of individuals have vitamin D inadequacy as defined by a low (<30 ng/ml) serum concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, regardless of age.

Greater awareness of the importance of vitamin D among males is needed, as vitamin D adequacy is essential for optimal calcium metabolism and skeletal health.