Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in various regions of the Russian Federation: results of the first stage of the multicenter cross-sectional randomized study

Background. A vitamin D deficiency is a global wide health problem. Inadequate vitamin D status leads to serious medical, social and economic consequences and requires timely diagnosis and adequate correction.

Aim: to assess the incidence of vitamin D deficiency among the population living in regions of the Russian Federation located at latitudes from 45° to 70° and to study its relationship to various factors (demographic, socio-economic, geographical, etc.).

Materials and methods. A multicenter, cross-sectional, randomized study of individuals of both sexes aged 18 to 50 years. The study of 25ОНD level in the blood serum was carried out by INVITRO LLC laboratories using chemilumescent analysis in two stages: in the period from March to May 2020 and from October to November 2020. The first stage of the study involved 500 volunteers (77% women, 23% men). Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, factors associated with vitamin D levels, were assessed using a specially designed questionnaire.

Results. In this article we present the results of the first stage. A countrywide high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (56.4%) and insufficiency (27.9%) was revealed, that is, 84.3% of the population aged 18–50 years requires cholecalciferol supplementation. The lowest vitamin D status was found in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Kyzyl and Rostov-on-Don (over 90% of participants had inadequate levels). A decrease in the level of 25ОНD was observed to a greater extent in men than in women (p <0.05), as well as in young people aged 18–25 years (p <0.05). No major association of vitamin D status with anthropometric parameters, the number of days of disability, were not found. However, those who went to tanning beds or were in direct sunlight for at least 30 days a year had higher levels of 25ОНD, and those using sunscreens had lower levels.

Conclusion. The data obtained confirms the widespread prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in the country (84.3% of participants), generally not related to the geographical latitude of residence, which indicates the need for vitamin D supplementation in a significant part of the population.

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