Plasma Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Dress Style in a Sample of Egyptian Female University Students

Background: Sunlight exposure is the most important source of vitamin D. Nevertheless, there are indications of a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a number of sunny countries. Concealed clothing, as it blocks the absorbance of UV light, is hypothesized to be the cause of impairment of vitamin D production. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and whether vitamin D status is related to the dress style among apparently healthy female university students in a prototype of Egyptian governorates which enjoy a good deal of sunny weather. Methods: A random sample of 120(90 females; 30 males) apparently healthy undergraduate students, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt, were enrolled in a cross sectional study. Females were divided according to their dress style into three groups, Western, Hegab and Nekab dress style group. Vitamin D status was determined in terms of plasma 25(OH) D levels using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Results: Mean serum 25(OH) D level was 23.7 +/- 12.681 ng/mL. Levels did not differ between males and females or between females grouped by dress style. Using a cutoff point of 30 ng/mL, 74.6\% of the sample (61.7\% and 79.2\% of males and females, respectively) had low vitamin D status. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of low vitamin D status among university students in Zagazig, Egypt. Results, however, are not in support of the hypothesis that concealing clothing is the cause of the vitamin D insufficiency. Thus, other factors must be sought to explain the low vitamin D levels despite the sufficient solar source of this vitamin. {[}Maggie M. Fawzi, Enas Swelam and Nagwa S. Said Plasma. Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Dress Style in a Sample of Egyptian Female University Students. Life Sci J 2012; 9(2): 763-767] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 113