Serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D level among adult black population in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

This is a retrospective descriptive study of serum level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D among adult black subjects in Lagos, Nigeria. Vitamin D testing is not a regular routine test request because of high cost and poor knowledge in the association of vitamin D deficiency with disease conditions. The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of reduced level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D among the study subjects and possible correlation with age and gender. Three hundred and thirty-eight subject data were considered for this study from data between 2014 and 2017. Their serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D were assayed using COBAS 6000 Chemiluminiscence immuno-analyser under standard controlled conditions. However, only three hundred and twelve subjects had complete set of data and were used for the study. Serum level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D were studied in 312 subjects. 66% of the study population had serum vitamin D below adequacy level of 30 ng/ml (38.1% were significantly deficient). There was no correlation between serum vitamin D level and age or gender. There is significant vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among the black subjects in Lagos irrespective of the abundance of sunlight available for de novo synthesis from the skin. Education and reviewed awareness on supplementation may help treat this deficiency.