Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency and its association with lower urinary tract symptoms among women in Saudi Arabia

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent globally and has been linked to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). In Saudi Arabia, this relationship in women has not been fully explored. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 386 Saudi women aged ≥18 years using a self-administered online survey. Data included sociodemographics, LUTS (assessed via the Bristol Female LUTS questionnaire), and self-reported Vitamin D status and supplementation. Associations between Vitamin D deficiency and LUTS were analyzed using Chi-square tests. Results: Physician-diagnosed Vitamin D deficiency was reported in 82.4% of participants. Severe deficiency was observed in 30.2%, moderate in 27.4%, and mild in 19.5%. Significant associations were found between severe deficiency and delayed urination (50.0% never experienced vs. 66.4% in mild/moderate deficiency and 71.2% in normal Vitamin D; P = 0.010) and straining to void (58.3% never experienced vs. 71.1% and 65.8%; P = 0.049). Paradoxically, 28.1% of women with severe deficiency reported ease in stopping urine flow, compared to 13.4% in mild/moderate deficiency and 20.5% in normal levels ( P = 0.028). Supplementation effects varied: 49.4% reported no change, 30.2% slight improvement, and 19.2% considerable improvement, often requiring more than 2 months. Most demographic factors were not significantly associated with deficiency. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency affects 82.4% of Saudi women, increasing the odds of delayed urination and straining to void by 1.5–1.8 times. Supplementation improved urinary symptoms in 49.4% of women, often requiring more than 2 months, emphasizing the need for routine screening, tailored supplementation, and public health interventions to reduce LUTS.