Abstract
The studied population (4078 subjects) was divided into five groups on the basis of their geographical location and lifestyle. The lowest 25-OHD plasma concentrations were observed in the population living in the northern province (14+/-7.7 ng/ml children, 11.4+/-7.0 ng/ml adults) and the highest plasma 25-OHD levels were found in the inhabitants of the western province (19.5+/-9.1 ng/ml children, 18.3+/-8.0 ng/ml adults). This holds true whether the subjects are males, females, children or adults. Regardless of age and sex, comparison between the plasma 25-OHD levels in urban and rural population shows that the latter have significantly higher levels (17.5+/-8.3 ng/ml in n=604) than urban people (16.3+/-7.9 ng/ml n=3474). Rural children have higher concentrations (18.4+/-7.9 ng/ml n=249) than rural adults (16.9+/-7.8 ng/ml n=355), rural males (17.7+/-8.2 ng/ml n=438) and rural females (17.1+/-8.6 ng/ml n=166). Comparison between those living in urban and rural areas in the same geographical location showed that rural adult males (19.8+/-7.9 ng/ml n=103) and females (21.3+/-7.2 ng/ml n=53) have significantly higher 25-OHD than urban adult makes (16.7+/-7.1 ng/ml n=564) and females (15.9+/-8 ng/ml n=546). The minimum concentration of 25-OHD in rural adult females is nine-fold greater than that of urban females.