Vitamin D deficiency is the new epidemic in town! 

Recent research has focused on the alarming statistics in the country.  Its prevalence is believed to be between 70%–100% in the general population !  In a study conducted recently in Delhi and Lucknow,, up to 98 % of the adult population studied had low vitamin D levels and around 80-91% infants between 2 -24 weeks old were deficient in Vitamin D.

So  why all this fuss about vitamin D ?  Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin the body makes when exposed to the Sun. It is an important vitamin that performs many crucial roles in the body, including maintaining normal levels of calcium in the body by aiding in calcium absorption in the intestine.  Without Vitamin D, calcium obtained through diet would go waste ! 

Besides vitamin D plays a major role in the making of some proteins and helps in mineralization and formation of new bone . Moreover, vitamin D is now increasingly being recognized as an antioxidant and diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, psoriasis, hypertension, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular diseases are known to have the involvement of vitamin D leading to the suggestion that the above spectrum of deficiency diseases be called vitamin D deficiency diseases (VDDD), according to the National Institute of Nutrition. 

Many studies in humans, suggest that higher intakes of vitamin D or higher levels of vitamin D in the blood are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.  A PubMed database search yielded 63 observational studies of vitamin D status in relation to cancer risk, including 30 of colon, 13 of breast, 26 of prostate, and 7 of ovarian cancer, and several that assessed the association of vitamin D receptor genotype with cancer risk.

The majority of studies found a protective relationship between sufficient vitamin D status and lower risk of cancer. The evidence suggests that efforts to improve vitamin D status, for example by vitamin D supplementation, could reduce cancer incidence and mortality at low cost, with few or no adverse effects.

A lack of Vitamin D causes bone disease called rickets in children characterized by poorly developed muscles, bowed legs, delayed dental development and osteomalacia in adults .  Osteomalacia is mainly Softening of bones – leads to deformities of legs, spine, thorax and pelvis.  Rheumatic pain of bones of legs and back, general weakness with difficulty in walking and multiple fractures.

A diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency is made when the blood levels of this vitamin is less than 20 ng/mL  

The best source of vitamin D is of sunshine .  About 20 minutes of exposure on arms and face for 3 to 4 times a week is enough to synthesize the vitamin.  Food sources include fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil, fatty fish species, such as catfish, salmon mackerel, sardines, tuna , whole egg,  and beef liver. 

Although we live in a country blessed with abundant sunshine throughout the year, given the extent of vitamin D deficiency, a relook at causes of defiency may be in order. Given the desk jobs and air conditioned offices, there is very poor exposure to sunlight (only 5 minutes per day of adequate exposure ), pollution, overuse of sunscreen , lack of outdoor physical activity, lack of calcium, iron or proteins or even excess fluoride in the soil or water in certain places could all lead to deficiency.

According to NIN, habitual Indian diets do  not provide even 10% of the requirement .And in India foods are not fortified with this vitamin unlike in some other developed countries.

To correct a deficiency, supplements are often prescribed, and to prevent it, adequate exposure to mid afternoon sunlight with maximum exposure of arms, face, neck and legs at least five days a week would be required . Fish  and beef eaters would need to consume oily fish or beef liver at least three times a week .