Temporal Trends and Inter-Annual Variability of Iron, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D Deficiencies in Ajdabiya, Libya (2022–2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37375/sjfssu.v5i2.3543Keywords:
Ajdabiya, Libya, Iron, Micronutrient deficiencies, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D.Abstract
Micronutrient deficiencies continue to pose a significant global health challenge, especially in areas grappling with socioeconomic constraints and poor dietary diversity. This study examined shifts in serum concentrations of iron (Fe), Vitamin B12 (vit B12), and vitamin D (vit D), spanning 2022 to 2025 among residents of Ajdabiya, Libya. The findings revealed notable year-to-year fluctuations. Fe levels peaked in 2022 (M = 75.06 µg/dL) but significantly dropped in 2023 (M = 45.19 µg/dL), experiencing a gradual recovery through 2024 and 2025. In contrast, vit B12 showed the lowest mean value in 2022 (M = 402.49 pg/mL) before surging to its highest level in 2023 (M = 524.16 pg/mL) and stabilizing thereafter. Vit D concentrations rose significantly in 2023 (M = 32.90 ng/mL) but experienced a modest decline over the subsequent two years. Elevated standard deviations for all biomarkers highlighted marked individual variability. Despite these inter-annual dynamics, deficiencies in Fe, vit B12, and vit D remain prevalent among the population of Ajdabiya. These findings underline the critical need for targeted nutritional interventions, diversification of diets, strategic supplementation, and proactive detection measures to combat micronutrient insufficiencies and reduce their potential health consequences over time.
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