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Vitamin D deficiency is common and unrecognized among recently arrived adult immigrants from The Horn of Africa
Author(s) -
Skull S. A.,
Ngeow J. Y. Y.,
Biggs B. A.,
Street A.,
Ebeling P. R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1046/j.1445-5994.2003.00344.x
Subject(s) - medicine , immigration , residence , vitamin d deficiency , demography , sun exposure , vitamin d and neurology , pediatrics , gerontology , environmental health , sociology , archaeology , history , dermatology
The prevalence of and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency were examined for recent adult immigrants from East Africa living in Melbourne. Demographic data were collected via a face‐to‐face questionnaire and risk factors predicting deficiency were examined. Suboptimal levels <25 nmol/L were found in 61 patients (53%; 74% of women; 20% of men). Lower levels were more likely in: (i) patients with a longer duration of residence in Australia, (ii) patients who were mostly covered when outdoors and (iii) women. Routine assessment for vitamin D deficiency should be considered for male and female immigrants from East Africa. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 47−51)