Research Article

Hospital-based distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by age, sex, and season: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 12,484 adult outpatients

Volume: 43 Number: 3 September 30, 2026
TR EN

Hospital-based distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by age, sex, and season: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 12,484 adult outpatients

Abstract

This retrospective cross-sectional study described serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels according to age, sex, and season in a hospital-based, test-selected cohort of adult outpatients. Adults tested for 25(OH)D at Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine Hospital during 2022 were included; for repeated measurements, only the first result was analyzed. Serum 25(OH)D was categorized as deficiency (<10 ng/mL), insufficiency (10–20 ng/mL), sufficient/study-defined target range (20–80 ng/mL), and elevated (≥80 ng/mL). Multivariable logistic regression assessed factors associated with suboptimal status (<20 ng/mL). Overall, 12,484 unique patients were included; 76.7% were women. Median 25(OH)D was 19.41 ng/mL (IQR, 10.95–28.47). Deficiency occurred in 22.1%, insufficiency in 29.6%, sufficient/study-defined target levels in 47.9%, and elevated levels in 0.5%. Median levels were similar in women and men (19.36 vs. 19.50 ng/mL; p=0.058) but differed by age group and season (both p<0.001). Compared with patients aged <65 years, the odds of suboptimal status were lower in those aged 65–74 years (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.57–0.70) and ≥75 years (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.57–0.78). Compared with summer, the odds were higher in spring (OR, 1.82), autumn (OR, 1.42), and winter (OR, 2.28; all p<0.001). Sex was not independently associated with suboptimal status. Serum 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/mL were common among tested outpatients, with clear seasonal variation. Findings should not be generalized to the broader population because supplementation status, testing indication, and other potential confounders were unavailable.

Keywords

References

  1. Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med 2007;357(3):266-81.
  2. Holick MF. Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80(6):1678S.
  3. Demay MB, Pittas AG, Bikle DD, et al. Vitamin D for the prevention of disease: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024;109(8):1907-1947.
  4. Manson JE, Cook NR, Lee IM, et al.; VITAL Research Group. Vitamin D supplements and prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(1):33-44.
  5. Scragg, R., Stewart, A. W., Waayer, D., et al.; Effect of monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation on cardiovascular disease in the vitamin D assessment study: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA cardiology, 2(6), 608-616.
  6. Neale, R. E., Baxter, C., Romero, B. D., et al.; The D-Health Trial: a randomised controlled trial of the effect of vitamin D on mortality. The lancet Diabetes & endocrinology, 10(2), 120-128.
  7. Khozam SA, Sumaili AM, Alflan MA, Shawabkeh RAS. Association between vitamin D deficiency and autoimmune thyroid disorder: a systematic review. Cureus. 2022;14(6):e25869.
  8. Pang B, Li L, Liu X, et al. Association between serum vitamin D level and Graves’ disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr J. 2024;23(1):60.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Endocrinology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

September 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 23, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 43 Number: 3

APA
Gürses Ulubay, F. E., & Atmaca, A. (2026). Hospital-based distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by age, sex, and season: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 12,484 adult outpatients. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, 43(3), 312-318. https://izlik.org/JA24ZU23AX
AMA
1.Gürses Ulubay FE, Atmaca A. Hospital-based distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by age, sex, and season: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 12,484 adult outpatients. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2026;43(3):312-318. https://izlik.org/JA24ZU23AX
Chicago
Gürses Ulubay, Fikriye Esra, and Ayşegül Atmaca. 2026. “Hospital-Based Distribution of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels by Age, Sex, and Season: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of 12,484 Adult Outpatients”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 43 (3): 312-18. https://izlik.org/JA24ZU23AX.
EndNote
Gürses Ulubay FE, Atmaca A (September 1, 2026) Hospital-based distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by age, sex, and season: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 12,484 adult outpatients. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 43 3 312–318.
IEEE
[1]F. E. Gürses Ulubay and A. Atmaca, “Hospital-based distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by age, sex, and season: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 12,484 adult outpatients”, J. Exp. Clin. Med., vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 312–318, Sept. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA24ZU23AX
ISNAD
Gürses Ulubay, Fikriye Esra - Atmaca, Ayşegül. “Hospital-Based Distribution of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels by Age, Sex, and Season: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of 12,484 Adult Outpatients”. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 43/3 (September 1, 2026): 312-318. https://izlik.org/JA24ZU23AX.
JAMA
1.Gürses Ulubay FE, Atmaca A. Hospital-based distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by age, sex, and season: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 12,484 adult outpatients. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2026;43:312–318.
MLA
Gürses Ulubay, Fikriye Esra, and Ayşegül Atmaca. “Hospital-Based Distribution of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels by Age, Sex, and Season: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of 12,484 Adult Outpatients”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, vol. 43, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 312-8, https://izlik.org/JA24ZU23AX.
Vancouver
1.Fikriye Esra Gürses Ulubay, Ayşegül Atmaca. Hospital-based distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by age, sex, and season: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 12,484 adult outpatients. J. Exp. Clin. Med. [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 1;43(3):312-8. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA24ZU23AX