RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among the Indian population and it is found to be associated with many diseases among perimenopausal women in various hospital-based studies. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to find out the Vitamin D status among perimenopausal women and to assess the association of selected factors with Vitamin D status among them. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 184 perimenopausal women in two districts of Kerala from July 2018 to February 2019. The data were collected and blood sample was taken for determining the 25(OH) D levels after obtaining informed written consent. Descriptive and inferential statistics were done using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: Among the 184 women, 2 (1.1%) had sufficient, 18 (9.8%) had insufficient, and 164 (89.1%) had deficient 25(OH) D levels. The mean 25(OH) D levels among the population were 15.01 ± 4.32 ng/ml (95% confidence interval 14.38-15.63), much lower than the required level of 30 ng/ml. Vitamin D level was significantly higher among women who had exposure to sunlight, were on Vitamin D supplementation, and those who had skin diseases. 25(OH) D levels were higher among residents of Ernakulam district, older age group, low socioeconomic status, mixed-diet consumers, those who attained menopause, and those had calcium supplementation. The level was low among those who regularly use sunscreen topical applications and had other comorbidities such as hypothyroidism. However, none of these factors were significantly associated with 25(OH) D levels. CONCLUSION: The study showed that Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among the study population.