Vitamin D deficiency: a concern in premenopausal Bangladeshi women of two socio-economic groups in rural and urban region

Objective The study was designed to evaluate the vitamin D status in women of different physiological status of two socio-economic groups in Bangladesh. Design A cross-sectional study, using serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase activity. Setting Two regions of Bangladesh. The Dhaka city area and west region of Nandail (Betagair Union), Mymensingh. Subjects Representative subjects of two groups (low socio-economic group=group L, n=99; and high socio-economic group=group H, n=90) of Bangladeshi women aged 16-40 y. About 87% of the subjects were housewives and the rest, 13%, were distributed among other different professions. Each group comprised of three sub-groups (non-pregnant non-lactating=1, pregnant=2, and lactating=3). Results The influence of socio-economic status and physiological status on serum 25-OHD concentration (P=0.038,…