Vitamin D deficiency and sun avoidance among university students at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Open accessAbstract
This study offers evidence that vitamin D deficiency could be a major public health burden among young Emirati adults, mostly because of sun deprivation in a sun-blessed country. This study included a random sample of 138 females and 70 males tested for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status. To further evaluate the predictors of vitamin D status in this population, the study examined diet, obesity and sun exposure. In summer, the mean serum 25(OH)D concentration for females was 20.9 ± 14.9 nmol/L, whereas that for males was 27.3 ± 15.7 nmol/L. Females scored significantly higher than males on the sun avoidance inventory (SAI), indicating that females avoid sun exposure to a greater extent than males, possibly explaining the lower vitamin D status. A significant negative correlation also existed between SAI and vitamin D status (Pearson's r = -0.33; p < 0.01), but no significant association was evident between vitamin D status and body mass index (Pearson's r = 0.03; p = 0.33) or low dietary intake of vitamin D-fortified foods (Pearson's r = 0.08; p = 0.13). The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration for females tested in winter was 31.3 ± 12.3 nmol/L while in the summer, it was 20.9 ± 14.9 nmol/L. This difference was statistically significant, suggesting that seasonal variation plays an important role in vitamin D status in the United Arab Emirates. Fortification of foods and drinks with vitamin D, supplementation and sensible sun exposure are important steps toward minimizing vitamin D deficiency.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The low prevalence estimates for AD in China and PDD in Iran and UAE despite high prevalence of low vitamin D status may be due to methodological issues (screening and diagnostic characteristics) and underreporting.
“However, the low prevalence estimate for AD in China and PDD in Iran and UAE despite having high prevalence of low vitamin D status [56,57,58] may be due to methodological issues (screening and diagnostic characteristics) and underreporting.”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [58]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Holick, M. F. (2007) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmra070553 · Cited by 13,720 · see citing works
Ross, A. C., Manson, J. E., Abrams, S. A., Aloia, J. F., Brannon, P. M., Clinton, S. K., Durazo-Arvizú, R., Gallagher, J. C., Gallo, R. L., Jones, G., et al. (2010) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2010-2704 · Cited by 4,024 · see citing works
Holick, M. F. (2004) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/80.6.1678s · Cited by 2,768 · see citing works
Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences
Holick, M. F., & Chen, T. C. (2008) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/87.4.1080s · Cited by 2,689 · see citing works
Contributions to Probability and Statistics: Essays in Honor of Harold Hotelling.
David, F. N., Olkin, I., Ghurye, S. G., Hoeffding, W., Madow, W. G., & Mann, H. B. (1961) · Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A (General) · doi:10.2307/2984135 · Cited by 1,914 · see citing works
Vitamin D Status: Measurement, Interpretation, and Clinical Application
Holick, M. F. (2008) · Annals of Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2007.12.001 · Cited by 1,663 · see citing works
The Role of Vitamin D in Cancer Prevention
Garland, C. F., Garland, F. C., Gorham, E. D., Lipkin, M., Newmark, H. L., Mohr, S. B., & Holick, M. F. (2005) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2004.045260 · Cited by 1,032 · see citing works
Schleithoff, S. S., Zittermann, A., Tenderich, G., Berthold, H. K., Stehle, P., & Koerfer, R. (2006) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/83.4.754 · Cited by 924 · see citing works
The Vitamin D Epidemic and its Health Consequences
Holick, M. F. (2005) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1093/jn/135.11.2739s · Cited by 579 · see citing works
Souberbielle, J., Body, J.-J., Lappe, J. M., Plebani, M., Shoenfeld, Y., Wang, T. J., Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A., Cavalier, E., Ebeling, P. R., Fardellone, P., et al. (2010) · Autoimmunity Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2010.06.009 · Cited by 537 · see citing works
Levels of vitamin D and cardiometabolic disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Parker, J., Hashmi, O., Dutton, D., Mavrodaris, A., Stranges, S., Kandala, N.-B., Clarke, A., & Franco, O. H. (2009) · Maturitas · doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2009.12.013 · Cited by 456 · see citing works
Sabetta, J. R., DePetrillo, P. B., Cipriani, R., Smardin, J., Burns, L. A., & Landry, M. L. (2010) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0011088 · Cited by 422 · see citing works
Hypovitaminosis D in a Sunny Country: Relation to Lifestyle and Bone Markers
Gannagé‐Yared, M., Chemali, R., Yaacoub, N., & Halaby, G. (2000) · Journal of Bone and Mineral Research · doi:10.1359/jbmr.2000.15.9.1856 · Cited by 411 · see citing works
Why the IOM recommendations for vitamin D are deficient
Heaney, R. P., & Holick, M. F. (2011) · Journal of Bone and Mineral Research · doi:10.1002/jbmr.328 · Cited by 376 · see citing works
Grant, W. B., & Garland, C. F. (2006) · PubMed · Cited by 301 · see citing works
Self-citationEffects of Different Dress Styles on Vitamin D Levels in Healthy Young Jordanian Women
Misha'l, A. A. (2001) · Osteoporosis International · doi:10.1007/s001980170021 · Cited by 232 · see citing works
Sunlight and vitamin D status in normal Saudi subjects
Sedrani, S. H., Elidrissy, A. W. T. H., & Arabi, K. M. E. (1983) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/38.1.129 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Ghannam, N., Hammami, M. M., BAKHEET, S. M. B., & Khan, B. A. (1999) · Calcified Tissue International · doi:10.1007/s002239900652 · Cited by 182 · see citing works
Low 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Normal Serum Calcium Concentrations in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Region
Sedrani, S. H. (1984) · Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism · doi:10.1159/000176801 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Rhodes, L. E., Webb, A. R., Fraser, H. I., Kift, R., Durkin, M., Allan, D., O’Brien, S. J., Vail, A., & Berry, J. (2010) · Journal of Investigative Dermatology · doi:10.1038/jid.2009.417 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Grant, W. B., Cross, H. S., Garland, C. F., Gorham, E. D., Moan, J. E., Peterlik, M., Porojnicu, A. C., Reichrath, J., & Zittermann, A. (2009) · Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2009.02.003 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Self-citationVatanparast, H., Calvo, M. S., Green, T., et al. (2010) · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.03.079 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Natri, A.-M., Salo, P., Vikstedt, T., Palssa, A., Huttunen, M. M., Kärkkäinen, M. U. M., Salovaara, H. O., Piironen, V. I., Jakobsen, J., & Lamberg-Allardt, C. J. E. (2006) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1093/jn/136.1.123 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Grant, W. B. (2009) · Dermato-Endocrinology · doi:10.4161/derm.1.1.7388 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Self-citationSiddiqui, A. M., & Kamfar, H. Z. (2007) · Saudi Medical Journal · doi:10.15537/1658-3175.3826 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Saadi, H., Nagelkerke, N. J. D., Benedict, S., Qazaq, H. S., Zilahi, E., Mohamadiyeh, M. K., & Al-Suhaili, A. I. (2006) · Bone · doi:10.1016/j.bone.2006.05.010 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Hypovitaminosis D in a Sunny Country
Fuleihan, G. E., & Deeb, M. E. (1999) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm199906103402316 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Dawodu, A. H., Absood, G. H., Patel, M. C., et al. (1998) · Journal of Biosocial Science · doi:10.1017/s0021932098004313 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Vitamin D Levels in Healthy Men in Eastern Saudi Arabia
Sadat‐Ali, M., Elq, A. H. A., Al-Turki, H. A., Al-Mulhim, F. A., & Al‐Ali, A. K. (2009) · Annals of Saudi Medicine · doi:10.4103/0256-4947.55168 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Vitamin D status of mothers and their neonates in Kuwait
Molla, A. M., Badawi, M. A., Hammoud, M. S., Molla, A. M., Shukkur, M., Thalib, L., & Eliwa, M. S. (2005) · Pediatrics International · doi:10.1111/j.1442-200x.2005.02141.x · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Mocanu, V., Stitt, P. A., Costan, A. R., et al. (2009) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.26890 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Milne, D., Canfield, W., Mahalko, J., et al. (1983) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/38.2.181 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Weiler, H. A., Leslie, W. D., Krahn, J., et al. (2007) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1093/jn/137.2.461 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
An estimate of the economic burden and premature deaths due to vitamin D deficiency in Canada
Grant, W. B., Schwalfenberg, G., Genuis, S. J., & Whiting, S. J. (2010) · Molecular Nutrition & Food Research · doi:10.1002/mnfr.200900420 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Self-citationThe estimated benefits of vitamin D for Germany
Zittermann, A. (2010) · Molecular Nutrition & Food Research · doi:10.1002/mnfr.200900494 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and bone turnover markers in young adults
Barnes, M. S., Robson, P. J., Bonham, M. P., Strain, J., & Wallace, J. M. W. (2006) · European Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602374 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Lagunova, Z., Porojnicu, A. C., Grant, W. B., Bruland, Ø. S., & Moan, J. E. (2010) · Molecular Nutrition & Food Research · doi:10.1002/mnfr.200900512 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Self-citationGrant, W. B. (2009) · Dermato-Endocrinology · doi:10.4161/derm.1.4.9841 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationDiet, clothing, sunshine exposure and micronutrient status of Arab infants and young children
Dawodu, A. H., Dawson, K. P., Amirlak, I., Kochiyil, J., Agarwal, M., & Badrinath, P. (2001) · Annals of Tropical Paediatrics · doi:10.1080/02724930020028902 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Vitamin D Deficiency in the Middle East and Its Health Consequences
Fuleihan, G. E. (2010) · Humana Press eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-60327-303-9_24 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Grant, W. B., Juzeniene, A., & Moan, J. E. (2010) · Scandinavian Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1177/1403494810382473 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Self-citationHealth benefits of higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in The Netherlands
Grant, W. B., & Schuitemaker, G. E. (2010) · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.03.089 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Self-citationSaadi, H. F., Reed, R. L., Carter, A. O., et al. (2003) · Maturitas · doi:10.1016/s0378-5122(02)00339-0 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Breastfeeding Patterns in the Arabian Gulf Countries
Musaiger, A. O. (2015) · World review of nutrition and dietetics · doi:10.1159/000424480 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Holick, M. F. (2011) · Public Health Nutrition · doi:10.1017/s1368980011000590 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Rajah, J., AbdelWareth, L., & Haq, A. (2010) · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.03.075 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citationVitamin D Deficiency in the Middle East and Its Health Consequences for Adults
El-Kaissi, S., & Sherbeeni, S. M. (2010) · Humana Press eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-60327-303-9_25 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [5]Saadi H, Dawodu A. Vitamin D deficiency in Arabian women and children: It is time for action. Emirates Med J. 2007;25:201–207. [Google Scholar]
- [42]Haq A, Rajah J, Abdel-Wareth LO. Routine HPLC analysis of vitamin D3 and D2. DIALOG, Germany. 2007;2:1–2. [Google Scholar]
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review
Mazahery, H., Camargo, C., Conlon, C., Beck, K., Kruger, M., & Von Hurst, P. (2016) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu8040236 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
- Authors
- Al Anouti, F., Thomas, J., Abdel-Wareth, L., Rajah, J., Grant, W. B., & Haq, A.
- Affiliations
- Zayed University; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed University (AE)
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine; Sheikh Khalifa Medical City; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (AE)
- Sunlight Nutrition and Health Research Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Haq, Afrozul
- Venue
- Dermato-Endocrinology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-10
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 235-239
- ISSN
- 1938-1972 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-1980
- PMC
- PMC3256339
- OpenAlex
- W2023919732
- Cited by
- 94
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 4.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Dermato-Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Emirates Foundation
- Zayed University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
- Keywords
- vitamin D deficiency, sun avoidance, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, university students, seasonal variation, sex differences, sun exposure, vitamin D intake, obesity, vitamin D fortification, Abu Dhabi
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
