الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Air pollution is one of the main elements that influences the >percentage of the ground level ultra-violet ray B (UVB). The level of air pollution is negatively associated with the amount of solar UVB that< reaches earth surface. So, more pollutant areas lead to less UVB passage and consequently, 25 (OH) vitamin D cutaneous syntheses reduces. The research was carried out to study the effect of some biological, behavioral, and environmental factors on vitamin D level among college adolescent females from Red Sea and Giza governorates. Subjects and methods: A convenient sample consisted of 151 first grade university female youth was selected. Written consent was an initial basic step. Vitamin D intake was assessed and serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and parathyroid hormone (PTH), were measured. Food intake was compared to the recommended dietary allowances using the food composition table of the National Nutrition Institute and based on WHO/FAO recommendations. Results revealed that majority of respondents (92.0%) were veiled and exposed to sun at noon time and 61.0 % mentioned that sun- exposure took more than an hour. Waist circumference (WC) and waist to height ratio (WC to Ht) in Giza sample and increased fish consumption per week in Red Sea sample showed a positive effect on vitamin D status. Spring season had a negative influential effect on Giza participants. Conclusion: This study concluded that lack of sun exposure as the main cause of vitamin D deficiency in college female, there is also limited awareness of the association between sun exposure and vitamin D synthesis. Fresh air and good food practices could aid in solving health problems with such an influence as hypovitaminosis D. Recommendations: this study emphasized the need for further vitamin D assessment and intervention Abstract VII by supplementation or fortification of a staple food item. There is also an urgent need for public education to improve vitamin D- related practice and to minimize health hazards of improper exposure to UV B rays. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key words: Vitamin D, Adolescent, University female students.