Epidemiology - Vitamin D Deficiency - Assignment Example

Name: Unit: Course: Supervisor: Submission Date: Task 1 25-OHD versus work performance report 1. Introduction Vitamin D is an essential nutrient required in the body. Deficiency can result to severe health hazard. Productivity and performance of employees is the cornerstone of a successful company. Health care cost, however, has been stretched greatly by illness, excess body weight, stress and other related multiple risk factors. These health conditions not only lead to absenteeism, but also reduced-employee work performance (Plotnikoff, Finch, and Dusek, 2012). The prospective observation study carried on western Wisconsin and Minnesota (Plotnikoff, Finch, and Dusek, 2012) covered a large number of employees upon completing Health Risk Appraisals online offering a room of reliability. The collected data however, lacked exclusion criteria. Participants were also given compensation gift card encouraging their participations. Motivating participants is vital has shown to impact on adherence and commitments to programs. This fact was not put into consideration in the study by (Sarikaya, et al., 2006). Sunlight is a source of vitamin D. However; the exposure, length, latitude and altitude as well as distance affects vitamin D absorption over the cutaneous layer. Therefore, the study by (Sarikaya, et al., 2006) on coal workers was quite vital to find out whether there was any relationship between coal workers exposed to sunlight on the surface and those underground. WPAI questionnaire (Workplace Productivity and Activity Impairment) required participants to fill emotional and physical limitations the participants faced in the previous seven days (Plotnikoff, Finch, and Dusek, 2012). This shows the biasness of the study since some of these factors could have risen from vitamin D deficiency as a secondary cause or other factors. Nevertheless, presenteeism was high among employees with less than 20ng/ml (Plotnikoff, Finch, and Dusek, 2012) (30-80ng/ml) is the recommenced range. Supplementation show that subject will benefit from increased 25OHD since those on supplementation of up to 4000IU had sufficient serum levels (Plotnikoff, Finch, and Dusek, 2012). Unfortunately, the (Sarikaya, et al., 2006) study contradicts the fact that sunlight is a reliable 25-OHD sources. Upon analyzing the serum samples, the study concluded the 25OHD serum levels between the two groups as not significant. In this case, the study lacked authenticity since it does not give the data analysis (Sarikaya, et al., 2006). Low 25OHD levels among coal miners were critical and could be a reason behind raised hip fracture incidences in addition to raised BMD levels. This fact was not emphasized by (Sarikaya, et al., 2006) study. This could be accounted for reduced productivity among employee. To conclude, 25OHD insufficiency and deficiency puts a heavy weight on the employer for example, in US about $150 billion per annum is spend. Therefore, a supplementation program that strives to replenish vitamin 25OHD stores among coal miners would be encouraged. References Plotnikoff, GA, Finch, MD and Dusek, JA, 2012, "Impact of Vitamin D Deficiency on the Productivity of a Health Care Workforce", J Occ Env Med, 54(2), pp. 117-121 Sarikaya, S, Ozdolap, S, Mungan AG, Gumustas, S, Koc, U, Guven, B and Begendik, F, 2006, "Effect of Underground Working on Vitamin D Levels and Bone Mineral Densities in Coal Miners: a Controlled Study", J Int Med Res, 34, pp. 362-366. Task 2 25-OHD intervention program among coal miners 1. Introduction Vitamin D is an essential nutrient required in the body. Deficiency can result to severe health hazard. Deficiency is defined as serum 25-OHD levels Read More