INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS FACTORS ON THE VITAMIN D LEVELS IN MENOPAUSAL WOMEN LIVING IN KVEMO KARTLI.

The aim of the study was to study the level of vitamin D in menopausal women living in Kvemo Kartli region; to determine the relationship between various factors and vitamin D deficiency; to formulate recommendations about efficient preventive activities based on epidemiologic study results. Research methods and materials: Cross-sectional (prevalence) research was conducted in three different medical institutions in Rustavi with a high number of patients. The study population involved women aged 47-54 years who had not received vitamin D supplements or other food supplements in the last 2 months. The research was conducted using standard questionnaire, which revealed various factors affecting the level of vitamin D, as well as Demographic characteristics. Half of the study population underwent blood vitamin D screening in late autumn, the other half in spring. The study showed that 24% of the menopausal women involved in our study, living in Kvemo Kartli had adequate levels of vitamin D (≥30 ng/ml), and 76% of the women had vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the blood. The majority -90% of those diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency are urban residents, 77% of respondents with adequate levels of vitamin D in the blood do physical work. At the same time, none of the respondents working in the open space and ethnically Azerbaijani and examined in the fall had a deficiency of vitamin D in their blood. A statistically significant correlation was found between the risk factors, we had assessed and the presence of vitamin D deficiency: Correlation Between the season of determining the level of vitamin D in the blood and the level of vitamin D, in particular, the chance of having a deficiency of vitamin D in the blood in spring is 11 times higher than in autumn (odds ratio (OR) =11.3 95% CI (1.4-90.6); Correlation Between the type of work (less physical activity) and vitamin D deficiency (OR) = 3.5 95% CI (1.1-12.6), 77% of respondents with adequate levels of vitamin D in the blood do physical type of work. work with less physical activity); Correlation between dress style (closed garments and headscarves) and vitamin D deficiency (OR) = 8.0 95% CI (1.0 -64.1). Considering the correlation with the above-mentioned issues related to vitamin D deficiency, special attention should be paid to different factors contributing to vitamin D deficiency/ insufficiency in menopausal women, such as the degree of exposure to the sun and various aspects related to it, evaluation and prevention of vitamin D deficiency prevalence.