The Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Ancient Egyptian Population from Baharia Oasis, the Greco Roman Period.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Biological Anthropology Department , National Research Centre

2 Biological Anthropology Department , National Research Centre.

3 Zoology Department, faculty of Science , Al-Azhar University

10.12816/0004511

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is considered to be the most common nutritional deficiency and also one of the most common undiagnosed medical conditions in the world. Vitamin D is naturally present only in minor amounts in most foods; the great majority is synthesized by the action of ultraviolet light on chemical precursors in the skin.
The manifestation of vitamin D deficiency in sub adults is referred to as rickets, and in adults, osteomalacia . Rickets and osteomalacia are the sub adult and adult expressions of a disease in which the underlying problem is a failure to mineralize bone protein (osteoid). The most common cause of this disease is a physiological deficiency in vitamin D. The associated problems include deformed bones.
Material and Methods: This study  aimed to investigate the skeletal remains of ancient Egyptians from Baharia Oasis population for lesions indicative of vitamin D deficiency (rickets and osteomalacia). The material consisted of 1075 commingled bones (38 sub adults and1037 adults). They were recovered from Baharia oasis.
Results: The results showed that, there was no evidence of rickets in sub adult group. The prevalence of osteomalacia in adult Baharia populations was 7.4% ; all were adult males.
This result could indicate that this population was subjected to sunlight all over the year and their diet was rich of calcium and phosphorus.
Conclusion: These few cases that were found may be due to mechanical stress during wine and textile production.
 

Keywords

The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine
Volume 55, Issue 1
April 2014
Pages 251-256

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