Evaluation of Vitamin D Status and its Interrelationships with Different Variables in an Iraqi Cohort of Kidney Transplant Recipients

Background: Recent studies have observed that vitamin D insufficiency is quite common among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and has several deleterious effects. Objective: This study aimed to assess vitamin D (VD) status and investigate its relationships with various health variables in KTRs in Erbil, Iraq. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study enrolled 130 consecutive KTRs; their mean age was 39.2 + 11.3 years, and 56.9% were men. Demographic data, comorbidities, and baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics were obtained, recorded, and analyzed. The value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] > 30 ng/mL was considered sufficient, values of 15-30 ng/mL were insufficient, and a value of /mL was deficient. The participants were divided into two groups: VD-deficient and non-deficient, based on their VD status. Results: A significant proportion (106/130, 81.6%) of the participants had a suboptimal vitamin VD level; VD deficiency was detected in 34 (26.2%) KTRs, and insufficiency was demonstrated in 72 (55.4%) participants. On a densitometry study of bone mineral density (BMD) of 70 participants, 42 (60%) showed osteopenia, 21 (30%) osteoporosis, and only 7 (10%) displayed normal BMD. Conclusion: Suboptimal VD levels is quite common among KTRs, and the VD-deficient KTRs are more likely to be women, diabetics, osteoporotic, have had episodes of rejection, and have higher intact parathyroid hormone levels. Regular 25(OH) D checking in KTRs might allow for more efficient identification of VD status and could assist in guiding preventive and therapeutic strategies.