Jordanian women Have a Lack of Vitamines

Majority of Jordanian women over the age of 25 suffer from vitamin D deficiency, a study released on Monday indicated.

The study, conducted by the National Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics (NCDEG), revealed that 73.7 per cent of Jordanian women over 25 suffer from vitamin D deficiency, while two-thirds suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency.

NCDEG Director General Kamel Ajlouni described the figures as “alarming”, noting that vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious chronic diseases including cardiovascular disorders, cancers and osteomalacia.

The study, funded by the Higher Education Ministry’s Scientific Research Fund, surveyed 5,636 people from all the Kingdom’s governorates last year.

It indicated that 65.5 per cent of Jordanian men above the age of 25 also suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency, 22.4 per cent are vitamin D deficient, and 5.2 per cent have acute vitamin D deficiency.

Ajlouni attributed the high rates of vitamin D deficiency to a lack of exposure to sunlight, recommending that Jordanian women take a vitamin D supplement.

The prevalence of obesity in the Kingdom is also high, Ajlouni pointed out, noting that obese people are at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency.

According to the study, 84 per cent of women in the Kingdom are obese or overweight, compared to 80.8 per cent of males. Ajlouni explained that obesity is a main cause of diabetes, calling on citizens to maintain physical fitness to avoid chronic health problems.

He also criticized the Ministry of Health for allocating more funding for AIDS than chronic diseases, such as diabetes, which lead to higher mortality rates.

The study’s results also showed that 64.7 per cent of Jordanian men suffer from high triglycerides, compared to 47.5 per cent of women.

Hypertension prevalence is 54.6 per cent among males compared to 39.8 per cent among females, while 46.5 per of cent females and 43.6 per cent of males suffer from metabolic syndrome, it added.

Following the launch of this study’s findings, Minister of Health Nayef Fayez revealed that the ministry will launch a programme to fortify flour with vitamin D in April. He noted that the national expenditure on treatment of chronic disease is estimated at JD600 million.

Fayez added that the ministry will soon implement a nationwide plan for the prevention of chronic diseases and train 140 doctors at the NCDEG to oversee the plan.

Vitamin D is found in many dietary sources such as fish, eggs, fortified milk and cod liver oil. The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, according to the Mayo Clinic.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control, vitamin D deficiency is characterised by inadequate mineralisation or by demineralisation of the skeleton. Among children, vitamin D deficiency is a common cause of bone deformities known as rickets. Vitamin D deficiency in adults leads to a mineralisation defect in the skeleton, causing osteomalacia, and induces secondary hyperparathyroidism with consequent bone loss and osteoporosis.

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