Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D. Almost 80% of vitamin D3 is produced in the skin. The region of Draa Tafilalet benefits from long daily sunshine time. As such, vitamin D deficiency should be low in this region. However, dressing habits can highly influence vitamin D status. This study aimed to evaluate sun exposure and its relation to vitamin D status among the general population in the region of Draa-Tafilalet, Morocco. Clinical, biological, and sociodemographic data were obtained from 331 adults visiting local healthcare units during the summers of 2019 and 2020. Plasma 25(OH)D2/D3 was measured by immunofluorescence. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 37.5%, while Vitamin D insufficiency represented 56.5%. Most of the studied population (76.4%) had restricting dressing habits and exposed only their faces. statistic tests showed a correlation of vitamin D levels with daily sun exposure (r= 0.308, p<0.001), dressing habits (p<0.001), age (r= -0.141, p=0.01), sex (p<0.001), physical activity level (p=0.003), and BMI (r= -0.298, p<0.001). The study showed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this region. Similarly, it exposed the effects of restricting clothes and low daily sun exposure on vitamin D status.

Vitamin A has several important functions such as preventing childhood blindness and strengthening the immune system against common diseases in children. The purpose of the present work was to assess the nutritional intake of vitamin A in oasis school-age children. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among children enrolled in public primary education establishments. 4244 school-aged children were randomly selected to take part in the study. Data on dietary vitamin A intake was assessed by the 24-hour dietary recall. Socio-economic characteristics were got using an appropriate questionnaire. Over the entire sample, the median vitamin A intake was around 409.3 μg for girls and 294.5 μg for boys. The prevalence of insufficient vitamin A intake was observed in 58.3%. The prevalence of inadequate intake according to socio-demographic and economic characteristics shows girls tend to develop vitamin A deficiency compared to boys. Children from urban areas show significant percentages of inadequacy. School-aged children with illiterate parents with low monthly income were identified as at risk of having insufficient dietary intake of vitamin A. In conclusion, we have revealed an important level of inadequacy for vitamin A in the overall processed results that must be considered.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D status and determine the factors influencing it in the Drâa-Tafilalet community (southeastern Morocco). Sociodemographic factors, health, cognitive status, sun exposure, and nutritional conditions were examined to help us understand their association with vitamin D status. Vitamin D data were gathered through laboratory testing, while demographic and health information was collected through interviews with participants in 2023. The study involved 100 participants aged 60 and above, most of whom were women (85%) rather than men (15%). The majority of participants were Arabs (90%), with a minority being Amazigh (10%). The average vitamin D level was 31.83 ± 10.55 ng/mL, varying based on participants’ age, education, and gender. Sun-exposed individuals exhibited significantly higher mean vitamin D levels (33.56 ± 11.99 ng/mL) compared to those with limited sun exposure (28.97 ± 9.28 ng/mL). Moreover, the time spent outdoors, seasonal changes, and the duration of sun exposure affected the levels of vitamin D. These findings depict the vitamin D status of the elderly population of Drâa-Tafilalet, recognized as one of Morocco’s poorest regions, shedding light on the significant influencers. Nonetheless, additional research is necessary to explore the correlation between dietary habits, sunlight exposure, and vitamin D levels in both young and elderly populations.

Obesity presents a health problem all over the world. The present study was undertaken to examine the impact of socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyl