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An Update on Vitamin D Deficiency Status in Malaysia.

Nutrients
January 1, 1970
Zaleha Md Isa et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the prevalence, causes, and management of vitamin D deficiency and its relation to calcium levels in various populations in Malaysia.

Results Summary

The study found that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were prevalent, particularly among females, Indians, and Malays, due to factors like skin type and sun-avoidant lifestyles. It highlighted the need for adequate vitamin D intake through diet, sun exposure, or supplementation, especially in high-risk groups.

Population

Adult men and women, pregnant women, postmenopausal women, adolescents, children, and individuals with specific diseases (e.g., spina bifida, epilepsy, chronic liver disease, atopic dermatitis).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Vitamin D
increase
serum calcium levels
-
-
essential for maintaining
#1
Vitamin D
increase
bone mineralization
-
-
ensuring sufficient
#2
Vitamin D
increase
cardiovascular system
-
-
protective effect on
#3
Vitamin D
increase
renal disease
-
-
protective effect on
#4
Vitamin D
increase
cancer
-
-
protective effect on
#5
Vitamin D
increase
pregnancy
-
-
protective effect in
#6
taking adequate vitamin D in food resources, sun exposure, or supplementation
decrease
vitamin D deficiency
-
-
prevented
#7
Abstract

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining serum calcium levels, ensuring sufficient bone mineralization, immunomodulatory properties, and a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, renal disease, cancer, as well as in pregnancy. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide, and it is not related to a country's development index. However, the data on vitamin D deficiencies are primarily taken from out-of-date, small-scale studies on target age groups or specific diseases, rather than from large-scale, population-based surveys. In Malaysia, for the past 16 years, studies were conducted involving adult men and women, pregnant women, postmenopausal women, adolescent, and children especially with specific diseases such as spina bifida, epilepsy, chronic liver disease, and atopic dermatitis. Only a few large surveys were conducted involving children and adolescents. Across the specific target population studied, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were seen particularly among females, Indians, and those of Malay ethnicity. This is related to widely known causes of vitamin D deficiency such as skin type (melanin) and sun avoidant lifestyles that include covering clothes, largely practiced by Malay Muslims in Malaysia. Other related causes or the high-risk groups are breastfed infants, the elderly, the obese, those on medications, and those characterized by fat malabsorption and geophysical factors. Vitamin D deficiency can be managed with pharmacological or non-pharmacological approaches, depending on the severity. The objective is to raise serum vitamin D to a normal level, hence, relieving the symptoms and reducing the adverse health outcomes. Despite no clear guidelines in treating vitamin D deficiency in Malaysia, this condition can be prevented with taking adequate vitamin D in food resources, sun exposure, or supplementation. Special attention should be given to high-risk groups including infants, obese patients, and the elderly.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdolescentAdultAgedChildDietary SupplementsFemaleHumansInfantMalaysiaMalePregnancySunlightVitamin DVitamin D Deficiency
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality65/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations15
Citations/Year5.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.78
NIH Percentile83.3%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.51
Normalized Score0.63
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