Shajee Ahmed Siddique, Yasir Mehmood Malik.
Frequency of Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients of Low Backache.
Ann Pak Inst Med Sci Jan ;7(4):208-12.

Objective: To determine frequency of hypovitaminosis D in low backache patients and to correlate their social, physical and nutritional styles with it. Study Design: Descriptive Case Series. Place and Duration: Pakistan institute of medical sciences, Islamabad over a period of fifteen months in 2008-2009. Materials and Methods: All adult patients of either gender who had low backache were included in the study. Nonprobability consecutive sampling technique was used. After selection of patients per criterion and informed consent designed proforma regarding demographic, physical, nutritional and social details was filled and serum calcium, alkaline phosphatase and vitamin D levels were done. In some patients DEXA (Dual energy X-ray absorptoimetery) scans were also done. Results: We enrolled 243 patients. Age ranged from 13-74 years (mean =26.7). Out of these 81 % had suboptimal vitamin D levels (cut off value= 30ng/ml) which comprised of 83.3% females and 16.7% males. Females usually spend more time in indoor activities may be because of lack of sufficient sun exposure they had high number in Vit D deficient group. In our patients 34.5% had reduced calcium and 49% had increased alkaline phosphatase levels. One glass of milk (250ml) was taken daily by 67% patients out of whom 82% had abnormal vitamin D level. Amongst females 39.7% observed veil and 86% of them had hypovitaminosis D. Seventeen patients underwent DEXA scan and only 2 showed normal results. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in backache patients, which may be contributed by insufficient sun exposure, improper diet and hormonal factors.

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