Establishment of Vitamin D Reference Values in the Palestinian Society And Investigation of Cultural, Behavioral, and Socioeconomic Effects
| dc.contributor.author | Mohammed Ibrahim Issa Al-mahariq | en |
| dc.contributor.author | محمد ابراهيم عيسى المحاريق | ar |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-09T09:07:18Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-06-09T09:07:18Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2022-08-21 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis documents several key contributions made to the vitamin D field. Vitamin D is recognized as a sunshine vitamin with regular sun exposure conditions. Unsurprisingly, vitamin D dietary intake is considered of minor importance in science. However, sun exposure reveals about 90% of vitamin D. In the last decade, vitamin D testing and the use of vitamin D supplements have increased significantly with neither clear nor agreement on blood level recommendation of vitamin D in healthy individuals. The recommended sufficient level of serum vitamin D is ≥30 ng/mL (≥75 nmol/L). In contrast, vitamin D deficiency is defined as 25(OH)D levels ≤ 20 ng/ml (≤ 50 nmol/L), and the serum level between 20 and 30 ng/ml (50-75 nmol/L) indicates insufficiency. The main objective of this study is to establish a population-based reference range of vitamin D in Palestinian society and investigate its associated cultural, socioeconomic, and human behavioural factors. We adopted a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 300 healthy Palestinian individuals from different cities and villages in the West Bank. Those individuals did not report a history of kidney, liver, or malabsorption disorders. The sample consisted of 123 males and 177 female adults aged between 19 and 65 years old. We used a structured questionnaire to obtain demographic and socioeconomic data, and information about health status and risk factors related to vitamin D insufficiency. Moreover, serum 25(OH)D was measured by the Abbott chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer (ARCHITECT i1000SR) to establish and provide reference values. The mean 25(OH)D serum level was 13.4 ng/ml (5th; 95th percentile, 12.34; 14.5). Notably, 92% of the studied sample had 25(OH)D serum levels below 30 ng/mL, 79.3% below 20 ng/mL and 61% below 12 ng/ml. The younger group (18-28) years of age was reported to have a significantly lower serum 25(OH)D level compared to the other three different age groups (29-40),(41-50),(51-65) years old. Our results also showed that serum 25(OH)D level was not significantly associated with gender, obesity (BMI), sun cream use, sun exposure, and wearing a hijab (head cover). However, no significant differences of serum 25(OH)D level were reported among individuals consuming cheese, yoghurt, egg, fish, milk, bread, and nuts meals intake. In conclusion, according to the lack of correlated evidence of major skeletal and non-skeletal disease conditions with vitamin D levels that are recommended as optimal (≥20 ng/mL, or even ≥30 ng/mL), and in light of our study to establish vitamin D reference level in healthy adults, we recommend to consider levels below 20ng/ml and close to 14 ng/ml as sufficient serum 25(OH)D level for the general population in the West Bank society. However, our study sample is limited with the small number of participants, hence further investigation and research are needed to establish more comprehensive and inclusive conclusions regarding reference levels and related factors. | en |
| dc.description.abstract | تقوم هذه الدراسة البحثية على تقييم الوضع الطبيعي لفيتامين د لدى الأشخاص الأصحاء في المجتمع الفلسطيني، بحيث يتم إنشاء المعدل الطبيعي الخاص بهم، ومدى تأثير السلوك الإجتماعي و الثقافي و الإقتصادي على القيم الطبيعية لدى هؤلاء الأشخاص، و مقارنة هذه النتائج بمجتمعات أخرى. بالإضافة لذلك، بحث إمكانية التأثير على تشخيص المرضى لدى الأطباء الفلسطينين و مدى إستهلاك المكملات الغذائية عشوائيا . سوف يتم جمع العينات الخاصة بهذه الدراسة ( عينة دم فقط) وكذلك تعبئة الاستبانة بأشراف ذوي الأختصاص . | ar |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.alquds.edu/handle/20.500.12213/10663 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Al-Quds Univeersity | en |
| dc.title | Establishment of Vitamin D Reference Values in the Palestinian Society And Investigation of Cultural, Behavioral, and Socioeconomic Effects | en |
| dc.title | معرفة المعدل الطبيعي لفيتامين د في المجتمع الفلسطيني و مدى تأثره بالجوانب الثقافية و السلوكية والاجتماعية و البيئية | ar |
| dc.type | Thesis |