Vitamin D Deficiency in Iran

Vitamin D plays a basic role in bone growth and metabolism and has been noted for its important role in many diseases. Vitamin D deficiency causes a delay in growth during embryonic and childhood periods. It also causes skeletal deformity and increases the risk of hip fracture. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency differs among different sex and age groups in developing countries. Iran is a country with a high prevalence of moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency. The highest prevalence of moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency in men was observed in Tehran, while Mashhad and Bushehr had the lowest prevalence rates among both men and women... (Read more...)