PREVALENCE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN OUTDOOR PATIENTS

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and multiple other biological effects. In humans, the most important compounds in this group are vitamin D3 (also known as cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). This cross-sectional study was conducted in outdoor departments of different hospitals. Patients presenting with chronic diseases i.e. joint pains, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and tuberculosis were included. A total of 136 patients were included in the study. There were 71 (52.21%) males and 65 (47.79%) female patients. The mean age of the patients was 39.34±4.34 years. The mean vitamin D levels were 33.48± 13.26 nmol/L. Eighty-one (59.56%) patients were having normal levels of vitamin D, forty-eight (35.29%) patients had vitamin D levels lower than the normal and seven (5.15%) patients had vitamin D levels higher than normal levels.