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Background <p>There are currently 22 Arab states, yet data on the overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in these countries remain limited.</p> Objectives <p>The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of VDD among healthy adults in the Arab world.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed/PMC, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and the Cochrane Library for original research and randomized controlled trials published from 2000 to June 2025.</p> Results <p>Five distinct meta-analyses were performed to estimate the proportions of individuals with optimal, insufficient, deficient, severely deficient, and low vitamin D levels in Arabic countries. The meta-analysis of 14 studies involving 21,763 patients revealed that approximately 20.4% of the population has optimal vitamin D levels (95% CI: 5.4% – 35.4%, Z = 2.67, <i>p</i> = 0.008). The analysis of 13 studies involving 21,413 patients estimated that approximately 24% of the population has insufficient vitamin D levels (95% CI: 19.2% – 28.8%, Z = 9.86, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). The meta-analysis of 21 studies involving 25,289 patients found that a striking 51.4% of the population has deficient vitamin D levels (95% CI: 34.8% – 68.0%, Z = 6.06, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Additionally, the analysis of 5 studies involving 2,763 patients found that approximately 36.2% of the population has severe vitamin D deficiency (95% CI: 25.5% – 46.9%, Z = 6.65, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Overall, the analysis of 21 studies involving 25,289 patients estimated that approximately 75.5% of the population has low vitamin D levels (95% CI: 65.3% – 85.7%, Z = 14.5, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Extremely high heterogeneity was consistently observed across all analyses (I² &gt;96%), reflecting substantial variability in study populations, geographic locations, and measurement techniques. Publication bias assessments using fail-safe N values ranging from 2,041 to 720,089 indicated robust findings across all categories.</p> Conclusions <p>This study highlights that low vitamin D levels represent a significant public health concern in the Arab world, with approximately 75% of individuals experiencing suboptimal vitamin D levels and 51% classified as vitamin D deficient. Future research should prioritize the standardization of diagnostic criteria, exploration of risk factors, and evaluation of the effectiveness of various intervention strategies.</p>

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Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Arab countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月1日

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  • Adla B. Hassan,
  • Saja H. Alamien,
  • Namaa A. Khalil,
  • Samah H. Alamien,
  • Rowida M. Hamid,
  • Aishah J. Altourah,
  • Balqees H. Hasan,
  • Latifa A. Mahmoud,
  • Yasin I. Tayem,
  • Haitham Jahrami

摘要

Background

There are currently 22 Arab states, yet data on the overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in these countries remain limited.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of VDD among healthy adults in the Arab world.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed/PMC, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and the Cochrane Library for original research and randomized controlled trials published from 2000 to June 2025.

Results

Five distinct meta-analyses were performed to estimate the proportions of individuals with optimal, insufficient, deficient, severely deficient, and low vitamin D levels in Arabic countries. The meta-analysis of 14 studies involving 21,763 patients revealed that approximately 20.4% of the population has optimal vitamin D levels (95% CI: 5.4% – 35.4%, Z = 2.67, p = 0.008). The analysis of 13 studies involving 21,413 patients estimated that approximately 24% of the population has insufficient vitamin D levels (95% CI: 19.2% – 28.8%, Z = 9.86, p < 0.0001). The meta-analysis of 21 studies involving 25,289 patients found that a striking 51.4% of the population has deficient vitamin D levels (95% CI: 34.8% – 68.0%, Z = 6.06, p < 0.0001). Additionally, the analysis of 5 studies involving 2,763 patients found that approximately 36.2% of the population has severe vitamin D deficiency (95% CI: 25.5% – 46.9%, Z = 6.65, p < 0.0001). Overall, the analysis of 21 studies involving 25,289 patients estimated that approximately 75.5% of the population has low vitamin D levels (95% CI: 65.3% – 85.7%, Z = 14.5, p < 0.0001). Extremely high heterogeneity was consistently observed across all analyses (I² >96%), reflecting substantial variability in study populations, geographic locations, and measurement techniques. Publication bias assessments using fail-safe N values ranging from 2,041 to 720,089 indicated robust findings across all categories.

Conclusions

This study highlights that low vitamin D levels represent a significant public health concern in the Arab world, with approximately 75% of individuals experiencing suboptimal vitamin D levels and 51% classified as vitamin D deficient. Future research should prioritize the standardization of diagnostic criteria, exploration of risk factors, and evaluation of the effectiveness of various intervention strategies.