SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF VITAMIN D IN WOMEN LIVING IN THE TYUMEN NORTH

Aim: To assess serum concentrations of vitamin D in women living in the North of the Tyumen region. Methods. 176 women from non-indigenous population living in the cities of the Tyumen region were examined. Of these, 96 were residents of Salekhard (Yamalo-Nenetski Autonomous Region - YаNAO), and 80 - Khanty-Mansiysk (Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Region - KHMAO). The mean age of women was 43.9 ± 11,3 years. Serum vitamin D was estimated by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay on paramagnetic particles using Architect i2000 SR equipment. Results. The mean values of serum D in both groups of women were significantly lower than the lower limit of physiologically optimal levels. Moreover, the concentration of vitamin D in serum of women in Salekhard (14.5 ± 1.0 ng/ml) was less than a half of the lower limit of the reference values and significantly (p=0.003) lower than the corresponding values in women from Khanty-Mansiysk (18.7 ± 0.9 ng/ml). A moderate deficiency of vitamin D was found in 37.5 % of women in Salekhard and 55.0 % of women in Khanty-Mansiysk while the corresponding proportions for severe deficiency were 22.9 % and 26.2 %. Critical vitamin D deficiency was observed in 36.5 % of women in Salekhard and 10 % - Khanty-Mansiysk. Conclusions. We observed significant differences between the settings in the mean values of serum Vitamin D concentrations. Moreover, greater proportions of women from Salekhard had more pronounced Vitamin D deficiency. Educational programs to inform both doctors and general public about the high frequency of hypovitaminosis D, the role of vitamin D in the protection of public health and the need to prevent hypovitaminosis D and its consequences are warranted to improve the situation.

Northern region, vitamin D, deficiency