Background: Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common medical conditions in recent times. It is becoming endemic in many parts of the world because of insufficient UVB exposure, urbanization, pollution and traditional clothing preventing UVB reaching skin surface. As a result, wide prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is observed in many countries.
Objective: to investigate markers of vitamin D deficiency applicable in large sectors of society at low cost.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 80 healthy adults aged (20-60) ys. All patients were subjected to full history, thorough clinical examination, laboratory measurement of hemoglobin, serum creatinine, Ca (total & corrected total), phosphorus, magnesium, intact PTH (iPTH), 25 hydroxy vitamin D level. Five indices were calculated and attempt to correlate each of them to Vitamin D level were undertaken statistically.The indices are ) :total Ca × PO4)/PTH, ( ionied Ca++ × PO4)/PTH, (Ca × PO4 × Mg)/PTH, (Ca × PO4)/(PTH × 1/S.creatinine), PTH alone.
Results: we classified volunteers into vitamin D Deficient (20 ng/ml), on comparing variables between them: there was highly significant difference between both groups in total calcium , PTH , (Total calcium ×PO4) /PTH, (Ionized calcium × PO4) /PTH, (Total calcium ×PO4 × Mg) /PTH , and (Total Ca × PO4 ×Cr) /PTH.
Conclusion: All indices suggested in our study are very close to each other as a predictive product so it is better to use the simplest and least costy one.