ISSN: 2642-6250
Authors: Rawa Al Ameri*
Introduction: Iraq is a sunny country so the risk of vitamin d deficiency is underestimated. Vitamin d deficiency is used to be related to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, so other symptoms are somewhat undistinguished. In recent years, many patients presented to primary health care with symptoms of fatigue, tiredness, bone and back pain, depression, hair loss, and muscle pain, as these symptoms raise the suspicion that vitamin d deficiency is becoming a concerning issue. Inadequate vitamin d level is an international topic now a day. Cases of depression are so common in daily routine work in primary health care, especially in women. In recent years marked attention is applied to support the depressed patients in primary health care. Objectives:-Assessment of 25 (OH) D levels in depressed women.-Assessment of vitamin D deficiency according to age groups and pregnancy state. Methods and Results: This is a cross-sectional study, a comprehensive sampling technique, included 108 women, above fifteen years old, presented to primary health care with symptoms of depression. The women have been sent for vitamin d level assessment. The results showed Vitamin d deficiency in a 100% of participated depressed women, including 40 pregnant. Serum vitamin d level is assessed by using 25(OH) vitamin D ELISA kit, which is available in most labs in the area of the primary health care center. The results showed 100% inadequate level of serum 25(OH) D, 79.1% of depressed women had deficient state while 20.9% of women had insufficient titer. Discussion and Conclusion: Family physician has an important role in the detection of psychological cases including depression and offering a plan for management and follow up. Randomized trials suggest that vitamin D supplementation can improve mood and health status in women. The current study gives a conclusion that vitamin d deficiency could be associated with depression in women.
Keywords: Vitamin D Deficiency; Primary Health Care; Fatigue
