Vitamin D deficiency reaches epidemic proportions in India

80 per cent of New Delhi’s population suffers from Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency has reached epidemic proportions in India despite ample sunshine. Recent studies on the Vitamin D deficiency reveal that about 65-70 per cent of Indians are deficient in Vitamin D and another 15 per cent are insufficient and also warn that if it is not managed properly, there are high chances that it can lead to rickets, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and infections such as tuberculosis.

This was stated at a recently held event on ‘Recent Advancements in Vitamin D Therapy Management’ in New Delhi,which was organised by Cadila Pharmaceuticals. Over 250 consultant physicians, gynaecologists, paediatricians, orthopaedics, cardiologists and endocrinologists attended the international speaker programme.

Dr Michael Holick, American Endocrinologist and global authority on Vitamin D therapy said, “Vitamin D deficiency has reached an alarming stage not only in Western countries but also Indian subcontinent which has enough sunshine. It is also observed that high level of Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.”

Maj Gen (Retd) Dr Raman K Marwaha, Eminent Endocrinologist, Former Additional Director & Head (INMAS) and President, Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR), “We have undertaken two major studies involving Indian children in the age group of 11-15 years, which were published in Osteoporosis International and British Journal of Dermatology. It was found that despite exposure to sun for 30 minutes every day for 30 days during summer and winter, it did not achieve the level of Vitamin D, which is considered to be adequate for sound bone health. And that is the reason why I feel that it is important to supplement Vitamin D in Indian conditions during summer and specially in winter to achieve adequate levels of Vitamin D.”

In Delhi, more than 80 per cent of the population has Vitamin D levels less than normal. Vitamin D deficiency and low calcium intake are important risk factors for osteoporosis, low bone mass, muscle weakness and therefore increased risk of fracture. Vitamin D adequacy during adolescence helps to reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.

“Vitamin D deficiency is yet another epidemic in our population, with a reported incidence of over 80 per cent in pregnant women and an equally significant number at menopause. Addition of Vitamin D as a supplement to women of all age groups is the recent trend in practice amongst the Obgyns,” said Dr Hema Divakar, Past President-Federation of Obstetric & Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and Ambassador for FIGO, the international organisation of Obgyns.

EH News Bureau