Its prevalence in people across India has made it a
National Health Concern (PR)
Highlights:
Ø
Last
decade has established vitamin D deficiency to be possibly one of the major
factor contributing to increased prevalence of metabolic disorders
Ø Vitamin D deficiency is positively associated with
insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes
Ø
Irrespective
of urban or rural areas, Vitamin D levels are significantly low across India
Ø
Vitamin
D deficiency can be easily corrected with no lifestyle changes
Ø
Vitamin
D deficiency – has minimal or no symptoms but manifests in many illnesses
April 25, 2013: We might live
in a country full of sunshine but Indians are still deprived of the sunshine
vitamin, Vitamin D – which is wrongly called so – is a pro-hormone that
influences the expression of more than 200 genes in human body. Nearly every tissue
in the human body has receptors of Vitamin D, be it brain, heart, skin, kidney,
pancreas etc. Any deficiency of Vitamin D in the human body is bound to affect
normal functioning of all organs having Vitamin D receptors.
Vitamin D deficiency is fast becoming a
global and National Health Concern. It is estimated that around 80% of the
Indian population has Vitamin D levels less than normal. However, the bigger
concern is that the population at large is not even aware of Vitamin D
deficiency and its consequences.
One of India’s leading diabetologist, Dr
Banshi Saboo, Founder of Diabetes Foundation of India, said, “Earlier Vitamin D
was thought to be responsible for maintaining calcium homeostasis to prevent
osteoporosis and maintain bone health. But, in the past decade research has
established the strong association of Vitamin D deficiency in diabetes,
immunity, asthma, TB, high blood pressure, neuro-muscular function, etc.
Dr Saboo further added, “Low level of
Vitamin D is associated with higher incidence of type 2 diabetes and correcting
Vitamin D deficiency improves insulin sensitivity and helps in better
management of hyperglycaemia. Also Vitamin D deficiency has been associated
with high incidence of type 1 diabetes.”
As the mother is the sole source of
vitamin D substrate for her developing foetus, vitamin D status is very
important during pregnancy. Maternal deficiency of vitamin D is linked with
abnormal foetal growth and gestational diabetes.
Sunscreen lotions, staying indoors,
clothing habits, pollution and minimal exposure to direct sun light (during the
period of 10 am to 3 pm) are the major reasons of such widespread deficiency in
the Indian population.
The eminent endocrinologist from Mumbai,
Dr Manoj Chadha said that Vitamin D deficiency has no defined signs or
symptoms. “People who complain of back pains, unexplained muscle pains, general
fatigue are the most likely to be Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency can
be easily corrected by Vitamin D supplementation or some lifestyle changes. In
a Vitamin D deficient person, oral 60,000 I.U per week for 8 weeks followed by
maintenance dose of 60,000 I.U per month is a reasonably safe method to correct
the deficiency.”
Although there are few major studies
carried out in India to determine the optimum (sufficient) levels of serum
Vitamin D 25(OH) D to be maintained to prevent chronic ailments, globally there
is a consensus that Vitamin D deficiency is defined as serum 25(OH) D levels
less than 20 ng/ml and insufficiency as serum 25(OH) D less than 30 ng/ml.
Whereas serum 25(OH) D levels above 30 ng/ml is found to be sufficient.
Given the fact that Vitamin D receptors
are present in various organs and tissues of the human body, maintaining
Vitamin D levels in blood above 30 ng/ml may ensure normal functioning of the
body organs and protect many from the suffering from chronic ailments.
