Hypovitaminosis D is common in both veiled and nonveiled Bangladeshi women.

The present cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the vitamin D status in three groups of women in Bangladesh by using serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25-OHD), alkaline phosphatase (S-ALP), calcium (S-Ca) and phosphate (S-P). Sampling was undertaken at three locations in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Representative subjects of three groups of women aged 18-60 years were studied. Study subjects included nonveiled young women = group A (N = 36, mean+/- SD age 22.3 +/- 1.9 years), veiled women =group B (N = 30, mean+/- SD age 47.7+/- 9.4 years) and nonveiled diabetic women = group C (N = 55, mean +/- SD age 50.2 +/- 5.9 years). The mean value of S-25-OHD was not significantly different in the groups. The…