Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide issue. Despite all of the century's medical achievements, vitamin D insufficiency remains widespread. Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency affects over a billion people globally.  Despite this, no international health organisation or governmental authority has declared a public health emergency to alert the public to the critical requirement for adequate vitamin D blood levels.

Vitamin D, popularly known as "the Sun Vitamin," is a steroid that functions similarly to a hormone. It is required for growth and development because it affects the actions of approximately 200 genes. Vitamin D comes in two forms. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) are two types of vitamin D. (cholecalciferol).  Vitamin D status is determined by the amount of vitamin D 3 produced in the skin under the impact of UV light from the sun, as well as vitamin D consumption from food or supplements. Vitamin D is created 50 to 90 percent of the time by skin exposure to sunlight, with the rest coming from the food. Most people's natural diets are deficient in vitamin D. The human vitamin D system is thought to start in the skin rather than the mouth. Egg yolk, fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and beef liver are all good sources of vitamin D. 

Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis, and neuro-degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease are all symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to the development of malignancies including breast, prostate, and colon cancers. Vitamin D insufficiency has been linked to seventeen different malignancies, as well as heart disease, stroke, autoimmune illnesses, birth abnormalities, and periodontal disease, according to recent study.  Vitamin D3 is thought to play a role in immune system modulation (perhaps lowering cancer and autoimmune disease risk), boosting neuromuscular function and mood, protecting the brain from toxic substances, and possibly reducing pain. 

Every day exposure to sunlight aids the human body in producing the essential quantity of vitamin D. Most people, however, avoid sun exposure for fear of contracting skin cancer. To avoid vitamin D insufficiency, spend 15 to 20 minutes in the sun each day, with at least 40% of the skin area exposed. Vitamin D production is slowed by a high concentration of melanin in the skin, and it is also considerably reduced by age. Even in the summer, sunblock, typical window glass in homes or cars, and clothing all efficiently block UVB rays. People who work indoors, wear a lot of clothing, use sunscreen frequently, are dark-skinned, fat, elderly, or avoid the sun are at risk of vitamin D insufficiency.

Despite the Middle East's abundant sunshine, which allows vitamin D production all year, the region has among of the lowest vitamin D levels and the highest incidence of hypovitaminosis D in the world. This serious public health issue affects people of all ages, but particularly pregnant women, newborns, infants, children, and the elderly. Furthermore, rickets is still recorded in numerous Middle Eastern countries, despite the fact that it is nearly abolished in Western countries. In several Gulf countries, these findings can be explained by limited sun exposure due to cultural practices, dark skin colour, and a very hot climate, as well as prolonged breast feeding without vitamin D supplementation, limited outdoor activities, obesity, and a lack of government regulation for vitamin D fortification of food.

Vitamin D insufficiency was shown to be prevalent in 28 percent to 37 percent of young healthy men residing in Saudi Arabia's eastern area, according to a recent study. (8) Other research on high-risk populations in Saudi Arabia found that 50 percent to 80 percent of the population had vitamin D insufficiency.

Public education, national health programmes for screening and prevention through dietary fortification, and therapy with vitamin D supplementation are all long-term efforts to address this deficiency problem. Finally, vitamin D insufficiency is widespread around the world, including Saudi Arabia and many other sunny areas. With the repercussions of vitamin D insufficiency on the Saudi population in mind, this health concern should be given proper consideration and action.

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