Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Patients Attending Oral Surgery Clinics: A Clinical Evaluation

• Aeshah A. Altayf

  Department of General Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Sabratha, Libya.

  Author

• Asad Ammarah Meatooq

  Department of Periodontology, Faculty Oral and Dental Surgery, University of Zintan, Zintan, Libya

  Author

Background: Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone metabolism, immune regulation, and oral tissue health. Deficiency has been linked to impaired bone healing, increased susceptibility to infection, and reduced success of oral surgical procedures. Despite abundant sunlight in Libya, hypovitaminosis D remains widely reported. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of vitamin D deficiency among patients attending the Oral Surgery Clinic in Surman. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March to November 2022, including 62 patients aged 14 years and above. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured and categorized as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20–30 ng/mL), or normal (>30 ng/mL). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Chi-square test, and one-way ANOVA applied where appropriate. Results: The study population comprised 62.90% females and 37.10% males, with a mean age of 38.80 ± 17.57 years. The mean serum vitamin D level was 22.85 ± 9.72 ng/mL, indicating an overall tendency toward insufficiency. Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was observed in 35.5% of patients, insufficiency (20–30 ng/mL) in 45.2%, while only 19.4% had normal levels. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females regarding vitamin D levels (p = 0.072), nor across age groups (p = 0.715). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent among patients attending oral surgery clinics in Surman, regardless of age or gender. Given vitamin D’s essential role in bone healing and surgical outcomes, routine screening and appropriate management may enhance postoperative recovery and improve oral surgical care. Further studies are recommended to assess the clinical impact of correcting vitamin D deficiency prior to oral surgical interventions

AlQuaiz, A. M., Kazi, A., Fouda, M., & Alyousefi, N. (2018). Age and gender differences in prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency. Archives of Osteoporosis, 13(1), 49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-018-0461-5

Bashutski, J. D., Eber, R. M., Kinney, J. S., Benavides, E., Maitra, S., Braun, T. M., Giannobile, W. V., & McCauley, L. K. (2011). The impact of vitamin D status on periodontal surgery outcomes. Journal of Dental Research, 90(8), 1007–1012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034511407771

Bikle, D. D. (2020). Vitamin D: Newer concepts of its metabolism and function at the basic and clinical level. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 4(2), bvz038. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvz038

Diachkova, E., Trifonova, D., Morozova, E., Runova, G., Ashurko, I., Ibadulaeva, M., Fadeev, V., & Tarasenko, S. (2021). Vitamin D and its role in oral diseases development: Scoping review. Dentistry Journal, 9(11), 129. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/dj9110129

Dietrich, T., Joshipura, K. J., Dawson-Hughes, B., & Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A. (2004). Association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and periodontal disease in the U.S. population. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80(1), 108–113. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/80.1.108

Hilger, J., Friedel, A., Herr, R., Rausch, T., Roos, F., Wahl, D. A., Pierroz, D. D., Weber, P., & Hoffmann, K. (2014). A systematic review of vitamin D status in populations worldwide. British Journal of Nutrition, 111(1), 23–45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114513001840

Holick, M. F. (2003). Vitamin D deficiency: What a pain it is. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 78(12), 1457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4065/78.12.1457

Lips, P. T. (2010). Worldwide status of vitamin D nutrition. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 121(1–2), 297–300. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.02.021

Mithal, A., Wahl, D. A., Bonjour, J. P., Burckhardt, P., Dawson-Hughes, B., Eisman, J. A., El-Hajj Fuleihan, G., Josse, R. G., Lips, P., Morales-Torres, J., & IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors (CSA) Nutrition Working Group. (2009). Global vitamin D status and determinants of hypovitaminosis D. Osteoporosis International, 20(11), 1807–1820. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-0954-6

Mogire, R. M., Mutua, A., Kimita, W., Kamau, A., Bejon, P., Pettifor, J. M., Adeyemo, A., Williams, T. N., & Atkinson, S. H. (2020). Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Global Health, 8(1), e134–e142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30457-7

Palacios, C., & Gonzalez, L. (2014). Is vitamin D deficiency a major global public health problem? Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 144, 138–145. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.11.003

Ross, A. C. (2011). The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D. Public Health Nutrition, 14(5), 938–939. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980011000565

Schroth, R. J., Levi, J. A., Sellers, E. A., Friel, J., Kliewer, E., & Moffatt, M. E. (2013). Vitamin D status of children with severe early childhood caries: A case–control study. BMC Pediatrics, 13(1), 174. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-13-174

Uwitonze, A. M., Murererehe, J., Ineza, M. C., Harelimana, E. I., Nsabimana, U., Uwambaye, P., Gatarayiha, A., Haq, A., & Razzaque, M. S. (2018). Effects of vitamin D status on oral health. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 175, 190–194. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2017.01.020

Vieth, R. (2001). Vitamin D nutrition and its potential health benefits for bone, cancer and other conditions. Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, 11(4), 275–291. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13590840120103120

Zgaga, L., Theodoratou, E., Farrington, S. M., Agakov, F., Tenesa, A., Walker, M., Knox, S., Wallace, A. M., Cetnarskyj, R., McNeill, G., & Kyle, J. (2011). Diet, environmental factors, and lifestyle underlying the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in healthy adults in Scotland, and supplementation reduces severe deficiency. Journal of Nutrition, 141(8), 1535–1542. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.111.140012

• pdf

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.