摘要：Background: Vitamin D popularly known as sunshine vitamin is both vital and indispensable for human beings. It caters to skeletal as well as non skeletal needs of the body. Evidence is increasing that the vitamin D endocrine system is also linked to obesity. Obesity has been found to be associated with lower levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Underlying causes could be less sun exposure in obese people due to their limited mobility and high storage in adipose tissue. Aims and objectives: The study was conducted with the objective of determining prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among postmenopausal women, it’s association with obesity and cardiovascular risk. Materials and methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted in a Tertiary Care Unit of Jammu and Kashmir state, India from July 2012 to December 2012 among 250 post menopausal women between age group of 45 to 70 years. Self designed semi structured questionnaire was used to assess dietary pattern, clothing practices and extent of exposure to sun. BMI was recorded to assess obesity and triglyceride level along with cholesterol was determined to assess cardiovascular risk. Vitamin D level was assessed via investigating 25(OH)D by using Roche electrochemiluminescence. Results: Out of 250 postmenopausal women vitamin D deficiency was prevalent among 80% of study subjects, 14.8% had insufficiency and 5% had optimum vitamin D level. Study subjects between age group of 51 to 55 of Jammu and Kashmir had BMI ranging between 26.7 ± 6.1 and 29.50 ± 6.1 respectively An important finding in this study is that high BMI is significantly associated with low vitamin D level p≤0.02. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is an alarming issue among postmenopausal women in India. Encouraging women to adhere to healthy lifestyles and maintain optimum BMI is indispensable to achieve optimum vitamin D level.
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