In short
- Two UAE studies found vitamin D deficiency in about 72% and 67% of the groups they tested. Those groups do not represent everyone in the country.
- Researchers point to factors such as clothing that covers the skin, time indoors, diet and low physical activity.
- The blood test measures 25-hydroxyvitamin D and needs no special preparation.
- Routine testing is not recommended for everyone, so ask a doctor whether you need it.
What UAE studies have found
A study of 12,346 Emirati adults in an Abu Dhabi screening programme, published in BMC Research Notes in 2019, found that 72% were vitamin D deficient, defined as below 50 nmol/L. The data were collected in 2011 and 2012.
A 2022 study in the journal Nutrients looked at 550 female migrants in Al Ain and found deficiency in 67%, defined as 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L) or lower. The rate varied a great deal: 87% among Arab women, 83% among South Asian women and 15% among Filipina women.
These figures need some care. Each study covers a particular group and place at a particular time, and neither tells you the rate for the whole UAE population. The first study was mostly of women in urban areas, and included UAE nationals only. Neither can tell you your own level.
Why low levels can happen in a sunny place
Sunlight on bare skin is one source of vitamin D, so low levels here can seem surprising. The authors of these studies suggest several possible reasons:
- Clothing that covers most of the skin
- Spending more time indoors, including during very hot months
- Low intake of vitamin D from food
- Darker skin, which makes less vitamin D from the same sunlight
- Low physical activity and obesity, which were linked with deficiency in the Al Ain study
The Abu Dhabi study also found that average levels were higher in the winter months and lower in July and August. The authors called this counterintuitive for a sunny region. These studies show links, not proof of cause.
How vitamin D is tested
The test is a blood test for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the form your liver makes from vitamin D. MedlinePlus describes it as the most accurate way to see whether you have enough. You do not need any special preparation. Tell the doctor or lab about your medicines, vitamins and supplements, but do not stop any medicine unless your doctor says so.
Results are usually grouped as deficient, insufficient, sufficient or optimal, or toxic. Labs and studies can use different cut-offs and units, so ask your doctor to explain the result on your report.
Who may need a test
MedlinePlus says routine vitamin D testing is not recommended for everyone. It says a test may be useful for people with:
- Symptoms such as bone pain, muscle weakness, soft or deformed bones, or fractures
- A condition linked to deficiency, such as low bone density
- A higher risk, such as little sun exposure, poor nutrition, weight-loss surgery, conditions that affect how food is absorbed, kidney or liver disease, or medicines that affect vitamin D
- Supplements they already take, to see whether levels are improving or too high
More is not always better. Very high levels, usually from supplements, can damage organs and blood vessels. Talk to a doctor about what a result means for you and whether you need to do anything about it.
If a problem comes on suddenly, do not wait for a test. Call 998 for sudden weakness on one side of the body, or go to an emergency department for a possible broken bone.
You can search the medicAI lab test list by name, or by what a test measures. A licensed partner laboratory collects your sample, and you can talk your result through with a doctor by video.
Questions people ask
Why is vitamin D deficiency common in the UAE?
Studies in the UAE have found high rates in the groups they tested. The authors suggest reasons such as clothing that covers the skin, time indoors, low dietary intake, darker skin, low physical activity and obesity.
Do I need to fast before a vitamin D test?
MedlinePlus says you do not need any special preparation for a vitamin D test. Follow your own instructions if other tests are being done on the same sample.
Should everyone have a vitamin D test?
MedlinePlus says routine testing is not recommended for everyone. A doctor can advise you based on your symptoms, your health conditions and your risk of low levels.
Sources and further reading
- Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and associated comorbidities among Abu Dhabi Emirates population (BMC Research Notes)
- Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Associated Factors among Female Migrants in the United Arab Emirates (Nutrients)
- Vitamin D Test (MedlinePlus)
- When to use the emergency room - adult (MedlinePlus)
medicAI is not for emergencies. If someone is seriously ill or injured, call 998 or go to the nearest hospital.
This article is general information. It does not replace advice from a doctor who knows your situation.
