Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide health problem associated with various health complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D supplementation in the Czech Republic, understand reasons for supplementation, and assess participants' knowledge of vitamin D's physiological effects. Methods: The study included 1812 participants representing the Czech population aged 15+, stratified by gender, age, and regional distribution. Data analysis was performed using SASD 1.5.8, using chi2 independence tests and regression analysis. Results: The results revealed that only 13.5% of the participants maintained regular year-round vitamin D supplementation, while 51.5% never supplemented. A slight increase in supplementation was observed during the pandemic (2020-2021). Supplementation patterns were influenced by socioeconomic factors including age, gender, marital status, income, employment, and education (p > 0.001). Regarding vitamin D knowledge, 67.5% and 65.6% of participants recognized its role in immune system modulation and bone health, respectively. There were minor misconceptions, with 1.4% believing that it aggravates allergies and 1.8% linking it to cancer. Knowledge levels varied with education and residence size. Conclusions: Despite the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Czech population, regular supplementation remains low, indicating the need for enhanced prevention programs and awareness campaigns.

Department of Medical Biophysics Faculty of Medicine Charles University Simkova 870 500 03 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Department of Preventive Medicine Faculty of Medicine Charles University Simkova 870 500 03 Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

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