Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with non-communicable and infectious diseases, but the vitamin D status of African populations is not well characterised. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children and adults living in Africa.

Methods

For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, African Journals Online, and African Index Medicus for studies on vitamin D prevalence, published from database inception to Aug 6, 2019, without language restrictions. We included all studies with measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations from healthy participants residing in Africa. We excluded case reports and case series, studies that measured 25(OH)D only after a clinical intervention, and st

SUBMITTER: Mogire RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7024961 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature