Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to explore a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and symptoms of depression and its related factors among urban university students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire during May-July 2018 among urban university students in the UAE. Levels of serum 25(OH)D were assessed using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA)-Architect i System. Data analyses were done using SPSS-IBM. Differences in proportional were tested with Chi-square test and P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: 417 students were participated and reported their Vitamin D level in this study. 242 (58%) of respondents were females. 318 students (76.3%) had vitamin D deficiency with a level of less than 50 nmol/L. The majority of student 281 (67.4%) linked their vitamin D deficiency to lack of sun exposure, while 95 (22.8%); 33 (7.9%); and the rest of the students (1.9%) linked their vitamin D deficiency to the diet; the socioeconomic factors and the financial issues respectively. The following factors showed a relationship with vitamin deficiency: Gender (p=0.036); Medical students (p<0.001); and senior students (p=0.001). Medical students factor showed a significant relationship with severe depression (p=0.002). A significant relationship between depression severity and vitamin D deficiency is shown in this study (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of depression. The urbanisation is an important factor related to vitamin D deficiency in this study. Therefore, promoting vitamin D health awareness, if replicated across university students, could contribute to positive health outcomes.
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@proceedings{APCPH-2019-310,
title = {Vitamin D Deficiency and Depression Among Urban University Students in United Arab Emirates},
author = {Nageeb AGM Hassan},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-07-22},
urldate = {2019-07-22},
journal = {6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health 2019 Proceedings},
issue = {6},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to explore a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and symptoms of depression and its related factors among urban university students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire during May-July 2018 among urban university students in the UAE. Levels of serum 25(OH)D were assessed using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA)-Architect i System. Data analyses were done using SPSS-IBM. Differences in proportional were tested with Chi-square test and P\<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: 417 students were participated and reported their Vitamin D level in this study. 242 (58%) of respondents were females. 318 students (76.3%) had vitamin D deficiency with a level of less than 50 nmol/L. The majority of student 281 (67.4%) linked their vitamin D deficiency to lack of sun exposure, while 95 (22.8%); 33 (7.9%); and the rest of the students (1.9%) linked their vitamin D deficiency to the diet; the socioeconomic factors and the financial issues respectively. The following factors showed a relationship with vitamin deficiency: Gender (p=0.036); Medical students (p\<0.001); and senior students (p=0.001). Medical students factor showed a significant relationship with severe depression (p=0.002). A significant relationship between depression severity and vitamin D deficiency is shown in this study (p\<0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of depression. The urbanisation is an important factor related to vitamin D deficiency in this study. Therefore, promoting vitamin D health awareness, if replicated across university students, could contribute to positive health outcomes.},
note = {Type: POSTER PRESENTATION; Organisation: College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, United Arab Emirates (UAE)},
keywords = {United Arab Emirates (UAE), Vitamin D; deficiency; depression; students},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}