Despite the great abundance of sunlight all year long, the Gulf region has more prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency compared to those countries in the western hemisphere.

In Abu Dhabi alone, 65 per cent of females and 60 per cent of males suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.

Among the Emirati population in the emirate, 90 per cent of women and 70 per cent of men are extremely deficient in this regard, according to health experts.

"This is a worldwide problem and not limited to the western hemisphere, it is more prevalent in this region," said Afrozul Haq, senior clinical scientist and head of Referral Service Section of the Laboratory Medicine at the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC).

He was speaking during the launch of a new research project on 'Vitamin D deficiency' by Zayed University on Monday in the Capital.

According to Fatme Al Anouti, assistant professor of Natural Science and Public Health of the College of Arts and Sciences at Zayed University and the principal investigator for the project, the research project aims to study Vitamin D deficiency among the Emirati population and document the seriousness and findings of this deficiency in Abu Dhabi or in the UAE.

"We don't have enough research here in the UAE, most of the research is extrapolated from other population, which is why we want to document the picture of Vitamin D deficiency and then explore the risk factors that are relevant to the population, and later come up with guidelines and recommendations," Al Anouti told Khaleej Times.

The campaign will be done in two phases. The small scale is the initial phase and will target around 200 Emirati students of Zayed University.

This will be followed by a large scale campaign involving between 500-600 adult Emiratis.

For the study, participants will be given a questionnaire asking them about their diet and lifestyle to determine the cause of the Vitamin D deficiency.

A blood test will also be conducted to determine their Vitamin D level -- normal, insufficient (borderline) or completely deficient.

For the project, Zayed University have collaborated with SKMC to conduct the blood test and the Emirates Foundation to fund the second phase of the campaign.

"We expect prevalence not only among Emiratis but others (Muslim Arabs) as well, but Emiratis are of particular risk because of so many predisposing factors that could lead to Vitamin D deficiency," said Al Anouti.

"Genetics play a very small role for Vitamin D deficiency, it is specifically related to environmental factors such as lifestyle, dietary habits, dress code, avoidance of sun exposure and non-fortification of food. You need 2,000 international units per day in order to maintain sufficient levels of Vitamin D," said Dr Ali Al Khalili, chair of Family Medicine at SKMC.

"We don't have actual data, but based on Al Bateen Clinic which treats the 98 per cent Emirati residents in the area, 90 per cent of Emirati females are severely deficient regardless of age and 70 per cent of Emirati males," he added.

Al Khalili said SKMC currently tests between 120-140 cases of Vitamin D deficiency a day.

"Vitamin D deficiency is not limited to bone and bone metabolism, it is playing a very important role in noncalcemic diseases such as neurological disorder, multiple sclerosis, alzheimer, hypertension, rheumatic diseases, diabetes, mycobacterium tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases and other diseases in addition to body pains," remarked Haq.

Noting that 65 per cent of females and 60 per cent of males in Abu Dhabi are Vitamin D deficient, Haq said it is a treatable disease and can be treated easily by proper sun exposure, proper dose of supplementation and fortification of drinks and food products.

Other purpose of the study is to help improve the health status of those who are Vitamin D deficient, to provide future guidance for intervention studies and foster and encourage research among students, said Al Anouti.

The findings of the research will be written by Al Anouti, in consultation with the medical team, and will be published in a medical journal.

Dr Sulaiman Al Jassim, vice president of Zayed University started off the campaign on Monday by being the first to have his blood tested for Vitamin D assay. -- olivia@khaleejtimes.ae To see more of the Khaleej Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.khaleejtimes.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Khaleej Times, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.