Vitamin D status in Saudi school children based on knowledge

BMC Pediatrics

Table 3 Mean vitamin D levels based on general knowledge about vitamin D among schoolboys and girls

	BOYS			GIRLS
	Yes	No	P-value	Yes	No	P-value
Have you heard about vitamin D in school?	39.3 ± 0.9	38.1 ± 0.9	NS	29.8 ± 0.9	29.2 ± 0.7	NS
Have you heard about vitamin D sources in primary care centers	41.1 ± 1.6	37.4 ± 0.6	0.03	31.3 ± 1.2	28.7 ± 0.7	0.05
Is vitamin D important in calcium absorption?	39.1 ± 0.6	38.5 ± 1.2	NS	29.6 ± 0.6	28.9 ± 1.6	NS
Does vitamin D deficiency lead to rickets in children?	38.8 ± 0.6	40.2 ± 1.6	NS	29.7 ± 0.6	28.4 ± 1.1	NS
Does vitamin D deficiency lead to osteomalacia in adults?	38.8 ± 0.6	40.1 ± 1.6	NS	29.6 ± 0.6	29.3 ± 1.2	NS
Does vitamin D lead to osteoporosis?	38.8 ± 0.6	42.2 ± 2.2	NS	29.8 ± 0.6	26.1 ± 1.1	0.03
Are vegetables rich in vitamin D?	38.4 ± 0.6	40.3 ± 1.6	NS	28.6 ± 0.6	31.7 ± 1.2	0.015
Are fruits rich in vitamin D?	39.2 ± 0.6	38.3 ± 1.2	NS	29.2 ± 0.7	30.4 ± 1.2	NS

Note: Adjusted for the following confounding variables: age, obesity, skin color, use of sunscreen, use of vitamin D supplements, outdoor school exercise; p-value significant at <0.05, NS: non-significant.

ISSN: 1471-2431