In May 2019 researchers from Iran and the UK published the results of their study to assess the risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency using a decision tree model. A total of 903 adolescent Iranian girls, aged 12-18 years, were involved in the study. All blood count parameters and trace elements such as zinc, copper and calcium were assessed. Vitamin D levels of below 20 ng/ml were considered to be deficiency. The information from 618 individuals was used to construct the decision-tree, whilst data from 285 cases was used to test the performance of decision-tree. Results showed that a low level of zinc was the most important risk factor for vitamin D deficiency.
Gonoodi K et al. An assessment of the risk factors for vitamin D deficiency using a decision tree model. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019 May – Jun;13(3):1773-1777