High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the South Asian adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Vitamin-D deficiency is linked to a wide range of chronic and infectious diseases. Body of literature suggested that the prevalence of this deficiency can have geographical variation. Although vitamin D deficiency is frequently reported in the South Asian population, the scarcity of systematic reviews and meta-analysis means the true extent of the disease and the underlying factors causing it are poorly characterized. Methods A systematic search was performed using two databases (PubMed and Scopus) and one search engine (Google Scholar) for original studies on the South Asian population (published from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2019). Following the search, a random effect meta-analysis was performed to calculate population-level weighted average, the pooled prevalence of deficiency, and heterogeneity of vitamin D among different countries and genders; in addition to South Asia as a whole. Results Our study, based on our selection criteria was narrowed down to a total of 44,717 participants; which spanned over 65 studies from five South Asian countries. Overall, the pooled prevalence of deficiency was 68% [95% CI: 64 to 72%] with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 98%; p = 0.00). The average level of vitamin D ranged from 4.7 to 32 ng/mL, with a weighted mean of 19.15 ng/mL (weighted standard deviation 11.59 ng/mL). The highest prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found in Pakistan (73%;95% CI: 63 to 83%) followed by Bangladesh (67%; 95% CI: 50 to 83%), India (67%; 95% CI: 61 to 73%), Nepal (57%; 95% CI: 53 to 60%) and Sri Lanka (48%; 95% CI: 41 to 55%), respectively. This finding indicated a high degree of heterogeneity among the population. (I2 = 98.76%), Furthermore, a gender-wise analysis suggested that in South Asia, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher in females than males. Conclusion Our findings reveal highly prevalent and variable vitamin D deficiency among the adults of different South Asian countries. Findings from this review would be helpful to generate hypotheses and explore the factors affecting the inter-country variability, alongside strengthening evidence for governments to prioritize mitigation strategies in this region.

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High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the South Asian adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-328883/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mahbubul H. Siddiqee ◽

Badhan Bhattacharjee ◽

Umme Ruman Siddiqi ◽

Mohammad Meshbahur Rahman

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

South Asia ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

South Asian ◽

Asian Population ◽

Asian Countries ◽

The South ◽

South Asian Population ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract Background: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to a wide range of chronic and infectious diseases. Body of literature suggested that the prevalence of this deficiency can have geographical variation. Although, vitamin D deficiency is frequently reported in the South Asian population, the scarcity of systematic reviews and meta-analyses means the true extent of the disease and the underlying factors causing it are poorly characterized.Methods: A systematic search was performed using databases (PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar) for original studies on the South Asian population (published from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2019). Following the search, a random effect meta-analyses was performed to calculate population level weighted average, pooled prevalence of deficiency, and heterogeneity of vitamin D among different countries and genders; in addition to South Asia as a whole.Results: Our study, based on our selection criteria was narrowed down to a total of 44,717 participants; that spanned over 65 studies from five South Asian countries. Overall, the pooled prevalence of deficiency was 68% [95% CI: 64% to 72%] with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 98%; p = 0.00). Average level of vitamin D ranged from 4.7 to 32 ng/mL, with a weighted mean of 19.15 ng/mL (weighted standard deviation 11.59 ng/mL). The highest prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found in Pakistan (73%; 95% CI: 63% to 83%) followed by Bangladesh (67%; 95% CI: 50% to 83%), India (67%; 95% CI: 61% to 73%), Nepal (57%; 95% CI: 53% to 60%) and Sri Lanka (48%; 95% CI: 41% to 55%), respectively. This finding indicated a high degree of heterogeneity among the population. (I2 = 98.76%), Furthermore, a gender wise analysis suggested that in South Asia, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher in females than males. Conclusion: Our findings reveal highly prevalent and variable vitamin D deficiency among the adults of different South Asian countries. Findings from this review would be helpful to generate hypotheses and explore the factors affecting the inter-country variability, alongside strengthening evidence for governments to prioritize mitigation strategies in this region.

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Special considerations for vitamin D in the south Asian population in the UK

Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease ◽

10.1177/1759720x17704430 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 137-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Nicola M. Lowe ◽

Issak Bhojani

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

South Asian ◽

Asian Population ◽

The South ◽

South Asian Population ◽

The Uk

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Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency, Metabolic Syndrome and Association Between the Two in a South Asian Population

Journal of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy ◽

10.4172/2161-0509.1000229 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 08 (02) ◽

Author(s):

Ramesh Reddy Allam ◽

Rashmi Pant ◽

Chengappa K Uthappa ◽

Manjunath Dinaker ◽

Ganesh Oruganti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

South Asian ◽

Asian Population ◽

South Asian Population

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Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with diabetes in a South-Asian population

Endocrine Abstracts ◽

10.1530/endoabs.38.p273 ◽

2015 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kavinga Gunawardane ◽

Noel Somasundaram ◽

Neil Thalagala ◽

Pubudu Chulasiri ◽

Sudath Fernando

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

South Asian ◽

Asian Population ◽

South Asian Population

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Nutrition transition in South Asia: the emergence of non-communicable chronic diseases

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.5732.2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Ghose Bishwajit

Keyword(s):

South Asia ◽

South Asian ◽

Food Systems ◽

Nutrition Transition ◽

Saturated Fat ◽

Asian Population ◽

Asian Countries ◽

South Asian Population ◽

Subsequent Transformation ◽

Regional Population

Overview: South Asian countries have experienced a remarkable economic growth during last two decades along with subsequent transformation in social, economic and food systems. Rising disposable income levels continue to drive the nutrition transition characterized by a shift from a traditional high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets towards diets with a lower carbohydrate and higher proportion of saturated fat, sugar and salt. Steered by various transitions in demographic, economic and nutritional terms, South Asian population are experiencing a rapidly changing disease profile. While the healthcare systems have long been striving to disentangle from the vicious cycle of poverty and undernutrition, South Asian countries are now confronted with an emerging epidemic of obesity and a constellation of other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This dual burden is bringing about a serious health and economic conundrum and is generating enormous pressure on the already overstretched healthcare system of South Asian countries.Objectives: The Nutrition transition has been a very popular topic in the field of human nutrition during last few decades and many countries and broad geographic regions have been studied. However there is no review on this topic in the context of South Asia as yet. The main purpose of this review is to highlight the factors accounting for the onset of nutrition transition and its subsequent impact on epidemiological transition in five major South Asian countries including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Special emphasis was given on India and Bangladesh as they together account for 94% of the regional population and about half world’s malnourished population.Methods: This study is literature based. Main data sources were published research articles obtained through an electronic medical databases search.

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Association of TP53 Codon 72 Arg>Pro Polymorphism with Breast and Lung Cancer Risk in the South Asian Population: A Meta-Analysis

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention ◽

10.31557/apjcp.2020.21.6.1511 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 1511-1519 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sarah Jafrin ◽

Md Abdul Aziz ◽

Shamima Nasrin Anonna ◽

Tahmina Akter ◽

Nura Ershad Naznin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

South Asian ◽

Lung Cancer Risk ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Asian Population ◽

The South ◽

South Asian Population ◽

Codon 72

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Nutrition transition in South Asia: the emergence of non-communicable chronic diseases

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.5732.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ghose Bishwajit

Keyword(s):

South Asia ◽

South Asian ◽

Food Systems ◽

Nutrition Transition ◽

Saturated Fat ◽

Asian Population ◽

Asian Countries ◽

South Asian Population ◽

Subsequent Transformation ◽

Regional Population

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Prevalence of antenatal depression in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.557 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

R Mahendran ◽

S Puthussery ◽

M Amalan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

South Asia ◽

South Asian ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Antenatal Depression ◽

Diagnosis And Treatment ◽

Asian Countries ◽

Pooled Prevalence

Abstract Background Antenatal depression carries significant adverse implications for the health and well-being of women, babies and their families. While prevalence of perinatal mental disorders in low-and lower-middle-income countries tends to be higher compared to high-income countries, rates tend to vary widely among countries in certain regions such as South Asia. This study estimated the pooled prevalence of antenatal depression in South Asia and examined variations in individual countries. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive search was conducted on thirteen electronic databases and grey sources for articles published between 1·1·2007 and 31·5·2018 from South Asian countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Studies reporting quantitative prevalence estimates of antenatal depression using a validated diagnostic/ screening tool identified, screened and appraised using a two-stage process. A meta-analysis was conducted using the proportion (%) of pregnant women identified as having antenatal depression as the primary outcome. Results Thirty-three studies involving 13,087 pregnant women were included in the meta-analysis. Overall pooled prevalence was 24·57% (95% CI: 19·34, 30·69). Prevalence rates for India (17·74%, 95% CI: 11·19, 26·96) and Sri Lanka (15·87%, 95% CI: 14·04, 17·88) were lower compared to the overall prevalence whereas the rates for Pakistan (32·2%, 95% CI: 23·11, 42·87) and Nepal (50%, 95% CI: 35·64,64·36) were higher. Conclusions While robust prevalence studies are sparse in most South Asian countries, one in four pregnant women is likely to experience antenatal depression in the region. The issue needs to be recognised in health policy and practice for resource allocation and capacity building at regional and national levels for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Key messages One in four pregnant women is likely to experience antenatal depression in South Asia region. Targeted efforts are needed at national and regional levels for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

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High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among South Asian pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114521004360 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-32

Author(s):

Mahbubul H Siddiqee ◽

Badhan Bhattacharjee ◽

Umme Ruman Siddiqee ◽

Mohammad Meshbhaur Rahman

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

South Asian ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Vitamin D Insufficiency ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Significant Heterogeneity ◽

Asian Countries ◽

Pooled Prevalence

Abstract Insufficiency of vitamin D, during pregnancy, is a common cause of various pregnancy-related complications. Despite such insufficiency being frequently reported among South Asian pregnant women, the absence of systematic review and meta-analysis renders the true extent of this problem poorly characterized. In this systematic review, three main databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched for original studies. We included original studies published between 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2019, conducted on pregnant women who lived in South Asian countries and reported the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among the study participants. Twenty studies with a total of 7,804 participants from four South Asian countries finally met our selection criteria. Overall pooled prevalence of insufficiency was 65% [95 % CI: 51% to 78%] with a significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.37 %; p = 0.00). The average level of vitamin D ranged from 9 ng/mL to 24.86 ng/mL with a weighted mean of 16.37 ng/mL (weighted standard deviation 7.13 ng/mL). The highest prevalence of insufficiency was found in Pakistan (76%) followed by India (67%), Bangladesh (64%), and Nepal (14%). Results obtained in this study suggest that vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent among South Asian pregnant women. Being the first systematic review in this region, findings from this study will help in future studies and strengthen the evidence for policymakers to develop effective mitigation strategies.

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High burden of hypovitaminosis D among the children and adolescents in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-747227/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mahbubul Hasan Siddiqee ◽

Badhan Bhattacharjee ◽

Umme Ruman Siddiqi ◽

Mohammad Meshbahur Rahman

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

South Asian ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Hypovitaminosis D ◽

Health Concern ◽

Asian Countries ◽

The South ◽

Asian Children

Abstract Background: Vitamin D is vital for the growth and development of children. While deficiency and/or insufficiency of vitamin D among South Asian children are frequently reported in the literature, the lack of a meta-analysis has left its true extent poorly characterized. In this study, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and perform meta-analyses of the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among the children of the South Asian countries.Methods: Two major electronic search engines (PubMed and Scopus) and one database (Google scholar) were used; original studies, conducted among South Asian children and adolescents and published between 1st January 2001 and 31st December 2019. A random-effect meta-analysis was also performed to calculate the pooled prevalence of hypovitaminosis D followed by subgroup analyses for countries and age-groups.Results: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 41 studies with a total population size of 18,233 were finally selected. The overall prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 61% [95% CI: 46% to 71%] with highly significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.72%; p = 0.00). The average level of serum vitamin D ranged from 5 ng/mL to 34 ng/mL, with a weighted mean of 19.15 ng/mL (weighted standard deviation 11.59 ng/mL). Country-wise analysis showed that hypovitaminosis D in Afghanistan was the highest [96.2%; 95% CI: 91% to 99%], followed by Pakistan [94%; 95% CI: 90% to 96%], India [64%; 95% CI: 46% to 79%], Bangladesh [35.48%; 95% CI: 32% to 39%], Nepal [35%; 95% CI: 1% to 83%.]and Sri Lanka [25%; 95% CI: 16% to 36%]. Age-group analyses revealed that hypovitaminosis D was most prevalent among neonates [85%; 95% CI: 76% to 91%], followed by school-going children [57%; 95% CI: 33% to 80%], and pre-school children [55%; 95% CI: 35% to 75%].Conclusion: This study generates quantitative evidence and specific extent of hypovitaminosis D in the South Asian countries as a public health concern. Being the first systematic review for this region, results from this study will create awareness and will facilitate adopting mitigation strategies by the policymakers and the governments to address this problem.

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