More than 80% of healthy Indians are Vitamin D deficient: Diabetes Foundation of India

 

 

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.