**Table 1.**

*Prevalence reports on vitamin D deficiency in Saudi healthy women.*


#### **Table 2.**

*Prevalence reports on vitamin D deficiency in healthy men, newborns, children, and adolescents living in Saudi Arabia.*

**9**

*Vitamin D and Its Deficiency in Saudi Arabia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88745*

**10. Vitamin D toxicity and safety limits**

expression once it enters the target cells [13].

**11. Conclusion**

deficiency problem.

the past 10 years. These studies have demonstrated a noticeably high prevalence of VDD in Saudi women (41.2–100%, **Table 1**) compared to Saudi men (32.5–92.6%, **Table 2**). Deficiency of vitamin D was not only limited to adults but also included

Excessive oral supplementation and food fortification of vitamin D may lead to toxicity because it raises plasma [25(OH)D] concentrations that exceed DBP binding capacity, and free [25(OH)D] concentrations have direct effects on gene

Upper safe limit is 5000 IU a day (and some considered it to be 10,000 IU), and the toxicity does not manifest serum levels below 120 ng/mL (300 nmol/L). To reach the latter levels, one must ingest vitamin D in excess of 50,000 IU daily for

In conclusion, this chapter summarizes that vitamin D is a fat-soluble prohormone and has skeletal and extra-skeletal functions. The main sources of vitamin D are sun exposure and diet. Two common types of vitamin D are vitamins D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamins D2 or D3 must be activated to produce its effects in a multi-step process. Vitamin D status is determined by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]; the value lower than 50 nmol/L (30 ng/mL) contributes to vitamin D deficiency. Severe vitamin D deficiency leads to osteomalacia

Like other countries in the world, Saudi Arabia suffers from vitamin D deficiency. This chapter illustrates the terrible deficiency of vitamin D for the Saudi

To improve the status of vitamin D deficiency, distinct strategies should be applied to raise the vitamin D stored as a routine measurement through sunlight exposure by increasing daily outdoor activity. Moreover, nutritionists should emphasize increased dairy intake, vitamin D supplementation, calcium supplementation, and vitamin D-fortified foods. Finally, effective educational programs are needed at the Saudi national level to raise public awareness of the serious vitamin D

several months. Thus, the safety of doses to 5000 IU a day is assured [4].

in adults, rickets in children, and an increased risk of fractures.

population for both genders and for different age groups.

newborns (88–90%), children, and adolescents (40.6–97.8%) (**Table 2**).

*Vitamin D and Its Deficiency in Saudi Arabia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88745*

the past 10 years. These studies have demonstrated a noticeably high prevalence of VDD in Saudi women (41.2–100%, **Table 1**) compared to Saudi men (32.5–92.6%, **Table 2**). Deficiency of vitamin D was not only limited to adults but also included newborns (88–90%), children, and adolescents (40.6–97.8%) (**Table 2**).
