Vitamin D deficiency hits Arab women and children

Arab women and children have been suffering from the deficiency of vitamin D due to inadequate sun exposure and improper diet, according to a new scientific research.

The research, called Vitamin D Deficiency in Arabian Women and Children: Time for Action, has jointly been carried out by Hussain Saadi, from the Department of Internal Medicine at the UAE University, and Adekunle Dawodu, from the Department of Paediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre in Ohio, US.

Infant vitamin D deficiency rickets is also common in many Arab countries, said the scientists. Rickets or rachitis is a disease, especially of children.

The study also highlighted the effect of women's modest dress code in the Arab world in combination with the insufficient sun exposure. "Many Arabian women maintain very modest dress codes with only occasional exposure of the face and hands to direct sunlight," said researchers.

They recommended an increase of daily oral intake of vitamin D to 800 IU (immunising unit) for such women and 400 IU for children to ensure adequate vitamin D stores.