Frequency of vitamin D inadequacy among Saudi males visiting a Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital in Al-Qassim region: Effect of vitamin D supplementation

Background: Vitamin D inadequacy (deficiency and insufficiency) has become an epidemic with the assumption that women in Arab countries are at a higher risk due to their clothing style of wearing dark colored suits or a veil. Aim of the work: To determine the frequency of vitamin D inadequacy among young adult and early middle-aged males in Al-Qassim region and to study the effect of vitamin D supplementation. Patients and methods: Sixty Saudi males visiting Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital in Al-Qassim region were enrolled and evaluated for musculoskeletal state including assessment of chronic diffuse musculoskeletal pains using Numeric Rating Pain Scale (NRPS) and functional evaluation of lower limb proximal muscle power using chair-rise performance test. Serum 25(OH)D was evaluated. Vitamin D supplementation was provided for symptomatic subjects. Follow-up clinical evaluation as well as serum 25(OH)D measurement after 12 weeks vitamin D3 supplementation was performed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.2 ± 6.4 years. 54 (90%) had vitamin D inadequacy; 42 (70%) deficiency and 12 (20%) had insufficiency. Significant increase in baseline serum 25(OH)D (13.92 ± 5.67 ng/ml) after 12 weeks of supplementation (35.94 ± 4.11 ng/ml) with significant decrease in NPRS (7.42 ± 2.12 vs 2.06 ± 2.04) (p < 0.001), as well as significant improvement of functional status scores of chair-rise performance test (93.95 ± 23.56 vs 203.1 ± 58.6 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Vitamin D inadequacy is a major health problem not only in elderly people or women with in-door residency and dark-colored clothes, but also in Saudi male young adults in Al-Qassim region.