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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency in children remains a global concern. Although literature exists on the vitamin D status and its risk factors among children in the Middle East, findings have yielded mixed results, and large, representative community studies are lacking. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In a nationally representative survey of 1077 Jordanian children of preschool age (12-59 months) in Spring 2010, we measured 25(OH)[D.sub.3] concentrations by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and calculated prevalence ratios for deficiency associated with various factors. RESULTS: Results showed 19.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 16.4-23.3%) deficiency (< 12 ng/ml) and 56.5% (95% CI: 52.0-61.0%) insufficiency (< 20 ng/ml). In adjusted models, prevalence of deficiency was higher for females compared with males (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.22-2.47, P = 0.002) and lower for children 24-35 months of age (PR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.44-0.92, P = 0.018) compared with children 12-23 months of age. In rural areas, there was no difference in prevalence of vitamin D deficiency between those whose mothers had/did not have vitamin D deficiency (P = 0.312);however, in urban areas, prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 3.18 times greater among those whose mothers were vitamin D deficient compared with those whose mothers were not deficient (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency pose significant public health problems in Jordanian children with female children disproportionately affected. Strong associations between vitamin D status in children and urban residency and maternal vitamin D status suggest that the behaviors related to sun exposure in urban mothers likely also affect the sun exposure and thus vitamin D status of their children. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2015) 69, 90-95; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2014.142; published online 13 August 2014, INTRODUCTION The global burden of vitamin D deficiency in children (1) remains a concern because of the important role vitamin D plays in skeletal health, including bone mineral content and [...]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency, a risk factor for osteomalacia and osteoporosis, is a re-emerging health problem globally. While sunlight is an important vitamin D source, previous investigations among women whose culture encourages skin covering have been small, not nationally representative, or both. We investigated serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)[D.sub.3)] status and factors associated with deficiency in a nationally representative survey of 2013 Jordanian women of reproductive age in Spring 2010. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We measured 25(OH)[D.sub.3] concentrations by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and calculated prevalence ratios for deficiency associated with skin covering and other factors. RESULTS: Results showed 60.3% (95% CI: 57.1-63.4%) deficiency (< 12 ng/ml) and 95.7% (95% CI: 94.4-96.8%) insufficiency ( CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency pose significant public health problems in Jordanian women. Prevalence of deficiency is significantly higher among urban women and among women who cover with a scarf/hijab or niqab. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012) 66, 751-756;doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.25;published online 14 March 2012 Keywords: vitamin D;deficiency;women;Jordan, INTRODUCTION Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread health problem globally. (1) Vitamin D facilitates regulation of calcium and phosphorus levels, which support cellular processes, bone ossification and neuromuscular function. (2-4) [...]