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The National Health Program for Vitamin D Supplementation in a Developing Country Publisher Pubmed



Saberikarimian M1, 2 ; Ghazizadeh H1, 2 ; Zanganeh Baygi M3 ; Minaie M4 ; Sadeghi F4 ; Pouraram H5 ; Elmadfa I6 ; Esmaily H1 ; Khadem Rezaian M1 ; Tavallaei S1 ; Mohammadi Bajgiran M1 ; Zare Feyzabadi R1 ; Timar A1 ; Sharifan P1 Show All Authors
Authors
  1. Saberikarimian M1, 2
  2. Ghazizadeh H1, 2
  3. Zanganeh Baygi M3
  4. Minaie M4
  5. Sadeghi F4
  6. Pouraram H5
  7. Elmadfa I6
  8. Esmaily H1
  9. Khadem Rezaian M1
  10. Tavallaei S1
  11. Mohammadi Bajgiran M1
  12. Zare Feyzabadi R1
  13. Timar A1
  14. Sharifan P1
  15. Bahrami Taghanaki H7
  16. Gholian M7
  17. Farahmand SK7
  18. Abasalti Z7
  19. Farkhani EM7
  20. Akhgari A8
  21. Smailzadeh A8
  22. Izanloo H9
  23. Nikpour M10
  24. Haghveysi A10
  25. Mohammadkarimi A10
  26. Yaghoubi A10
  27. Rahimi A10
  28. Tabatabaei SM11
  29. Sheikhzadeh K11
  30. Sheikhi M11
  31. Shahraki F11
  32. Farajian F12
  33. Salehizadeh M12
  34. Khanavi M13
  35. Ghanouni F13
  36. Goudarzi S13
  37. Ferns GA14
  38. Abdollahi Z4
  39. Ghayourmobarhan M1
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. International UNESCO Center for Health Related Basic Sciences and Human Nutrition, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
  2. 2. Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
  3. 3. Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
  4. 4. Office of Nutrition Department Society, Health Ministry, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  7. 7. Deputy of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
  8. 8. Deputy of Food and Drug, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
  9. 9. Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
  10. 10. Deputy of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
  11. 11. Deputy of Health, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
  12. 12. Deputy of Food and Drug, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
  13. 13. Food and Drug Administration, Tehran, Iran
  14. 14. Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9PH, United Kingdom

Source: Clinical Nutrition ESPEN Published:2023


Abstract

Background: Previous studies have reported a high frequency of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) among different age groups in Iran. Aims: In this study, the current coverage, status of vitamin D supplement taking, and program efficacy have been evaluated by the Office of Nutrition Department Society in Iran since 2014. Methods: This study was conducted in collaboration with the International UNESCO center for Health-Related Basic Sciences and Human Nutrition and the Office of Nutrition Department Society. Sixty three medical universities were included in the current study to calculate the availability, accessibility and acceptability coverages. Furthermore, 3 medical universities including Mashhad (MUMS), Qom (QUMS) and Zahedan (ZAUMS) University of Medical Sciences were selected based on the results of the National Integrated Micronutrient Survey 2012 (NIMS-II study), in order to assess the status of vitamin D supplement intake in all age ranges. Results: Quantitative analysis showed that availability coverage was 74.96% and 77.56% and accessibility was 80.70% and 83.26% in elderly and middle-aged subjects, respectively in 2018. The acceptability was approximately 43.7% and 43.9% among elderly and middle-aged participants, respectively. The availability and acceptability coverage was 80.99% and 85.0% among students in high schools. The mean vitamin D supplement uptake frequency was 27.0% (n = 387); 20.7% and 29.2% in rural and urban area, respectively (P = 0.001). The results showed that there was no significant difference in serum vitamin D levels between urban (20.41 ± 6.43 ng/ml) and rural areas, (P = 0.887). There was no significant difference in the serum vitamin D concentrations between men and women (P = 0.461). Conclusions: The frequency of taking vitamin D supplements was 27.0% in Iran in 2018. The frequency of taking of vitamin D supplements among vitamin D deficient group (serum vitamin D levels <19.99 ng/ml) was 43.6%. Lack of knowledge was the most important reason for not taking vitamin D supplement. Moreover, the serum vitamin D levels have increased in subjects aged 18–30 years old after the implementation of the vitamin D supplementary program. © 2023 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism