L'hypovitaminose D chez les femmes jeunes : une réalité sous-estimée

Vitamin D deficiency is recognised as a frequent problem in the world for bone metabolism as well as possibly for cancer or autoimmune disease or cardiovascular disease. Consequences of vitamin D deficiency are bone and muscle pains and asthenia. In France, this problem is unrecognized. In Rhône-Alpes area, a study in young veiled female population showed a very high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (82,5 % had a vitamin D level under 30 nmol/l). A new study was conducted in winter 2008 to answer two questions: what is the vitamin D deficiency prevalence in a young women population veiled and non-veiled and what are the confusing factors: sunlight exposure, food eating, skin colour, clothes, sport. Thirteen general practitioners' investigators in Rhône-Alpes area selected women aged 19 to 49 years between January and March 2008. Data have been extracted from a questionnaire about life quality (SF-12), quantity of vitamin D in their food, sunlight time exposure, and vitamin D and PTH dosages. One hundred and ninety-six questionnaires were collected with vitamin D and PTH dosages results. Sixty-one women wearing concealing clothes and 135 were non-veiled women. Ninety-six percent of women (n = 188/196) had a vitamin D dosage under 75 nmol/l. For each threshold of vitamin D level (< 52, < 30, < 10 nmol/l), the covered women were always more deficient than the other women. So concealing clothes can be considered as a major risk factor of vitamin D deficiency with skin colour and no sunshine exposure in summer. Sport inside, poverty, high BMI were also risk factors. The vitamin D intake, estimated with a questionnaire, was very low among all women, lower than the weekly-recommended intake. The physical quality of life was lower for women with great vitamin D deficiency; there was no difference on the mental quality of life. General practitioner should be careful with young women status vitamin D and must give some supplementation particularly in winter.