TY - JOUR ID - 67393 TI - Impact of Nutritional and Environmental Factors on Vitamin D Deficiency JO - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention JA - APJCP LA - en SN - 1513-7368 AU - Altowijri, Albaraa AU - Alloubani, Aladeen AU - Abdulhafiz, Ibrahim AU - Saleh, Abdulmoneam AD - Consultant Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. AD - King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. AD - Nursing, University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. AD - Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Y1 - 2018 PY - 2018 VL - 19 IS - 9 SP - 2569 EP - 2574 KW - Vitamin D deficiency KW - Nutritional and Environmental Factors KW - Tabuk citizens DO - 10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.9.2569 N2 - Background: Vitamin D can be obtained through a variety of food sources; however, ultraviolet rays in the sunlightcan convert a natural substance in the skin known as ergosterol to vitamin D. Aim: This study aims to investigate theprevalence and risk factors linked to vitamin D deficiency among a group of apparently healthy young male and femaleTabuk citizens in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study that comprised a convenience sampling method of 350male and female Tabuk citizens. Results: The results indicated a generalized vitamin D deficiency and severe deficiencyamong the participants, where 74.57% of the population had vitamin D deficiency, and 25.43% reported vitamin Dsufficiency. There was a significant positive correlation among the BMI, exercise, exposure to sunlight, vitamin Dintake, and calcium intake with vitamin D status (r = 0.574,** 0.525,** 0.515,** 0.466 and 0.465** at p-value < 0.001,respectively). Conclusion: The present study indicates vitamin D deficiency to be relatively common even among thepopulation of Saudi Arabia, a country receiving adequate sunlight. Also, Vitamin D and calcium supplementation canprove to be beneficial in correcting the deficiency. Moreover, the individuals at a higher risk of vitamin insufficiency,such as women, need to be educated on the health benefits of vitamin D and calcium supplementation. UR - https://journal.waocp.org/article_67393.html L1 - https://journal.waocp.org/article_67393_76e169c4d2b42b328f2aae8b09bd6783.pdf ER -