Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Associated Work-Related Factors among Indoor Workers in a Multi-Ethnic Southeast Asian Country

Ushashree Divakar, Thirunavukkarasu Sathish, Michael Soljak, Ram Bajpai, Gerard Dunleavy, Nanthini Visvalingam, Nuraini Nazeha, Chee Kiong Soh, Georgios Christopoulos and Josip Car
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Ushashree Divakar: Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308232, Singapore
Thirunavukkarasu Sathish: Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308232, Singapore
Ram Bajpai: Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308232, Singapore
Gerard Dunleavy: Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308232, Singapore
Nanthini Visvalingam: Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308232, Singapore
Nuraini Nazeha: Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308232, Singapore
Chee Kiong Soh: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Georgios Christopoulos: Decision, Environmental and Organizational Neuroscience Lab, Culture Science Institute, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Josip Car: Centre for Population Health Sciences, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308232, Singapore

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Little is known about the effect of working conditions on vitamin D status in Southeast Asia, where vitamin D deficiency is common despite the presence of sunlight all year round in most places. We examined the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated work-related factors among indoor workers using the data of 213 participants (aged ≥21 years) from a workplace cohort study in Singapore. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration <50 nmol/L. Data on work-related factors, socio-demographic characteristics, and lifestyle habits were collected using standardized questionnaires. Clinical and biochemical measurements were performed using standard tools and protocols. Multivariate Poisson regression was used to examine the independent association of work-related factors with vitamin D deficiency. Mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 59.6 nmol/L. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 32.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 26.6–39.6%). In the multivariate analysis, office workers (prevalence ratio (PR): 2.16, 95% CI: 1.12–4.16 versus control room workers), workshop workers (PR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.05–4.81 versus control room workers), and night shift workers (PR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.03–1.67) were at a greater risk for vitamin D deficiency. Workplace policies and wellness programs should encourage workers to take regular breaks to go outdoors for sunlight exposure and to consume adequate amounts of vitamin D-rich foods to maintain optimal vitamin D levels.

Keywords: vitamin D deficiency; indoor workers; cross-sectional study; workplace; Singapore (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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