- Among the 27 Indian cities where the study was conducted, Vadodara (89%) and Surat (88%) had the highest vitamin D-deficient population in the country.
- Delhi had the lowest incidence (72%), showing that all cities had numbers higher than 70 percent.
- About 3 out of 4 Indians suffer from vitamin D deficiency, using data spread across 27 cities and 2.2 lakh people in the country
NE HEALTH BUREAU
VADODARA, JAN 27
A new study by Tata group’s online pharmacy 1mg found that about 3 out of 4 Indians suffer from vitamin D deficiency, using data spread across 27 cities and 2.2 lakh people in the country.
The study, conducted by Tata 1mg Labs, concluded that approximately 76 percent of the population lack sufficient quantities of “the sunshine vitamin”.
Younger people (under 25 years) and men had a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency as compared to older participants and women.
The data from the study showed that 84 percent of younger people suffered from Vitamin D deficiency while 81 percent of participants (25 to 40 years) had low levels.
Additionally, 79 percent of men were found with lower-than-desirable levels of vitamin D in their bodies, while women were not too far behind at 76 percent.
Among the 27 Indian cities where the study was conducted, Vadodara and Surat had the highest vitamin D-deficient population in the country. In Vadodara, 89 percent of those tested had low levels, and in Surat, this was 88 per cent, according to data from tests conducted in the city by Tata 1mg Labs over a six-month period.
Out of the total 1,442 samples tested in Vadodara, 1,277 were found deficient in Vitamin D, with men faring slightly better (626) than women (651). The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency was the highest in the age group of 40–60 years (495), followed by 25–40 years (487), above 60 years (211) and under 25 years (84).
Data on vitamin D levels in the last 6 months based on analysis of 1,442 samples in Vadodara:
| Vitamin D Levels | Frequency |
| Low | 1,277 |
| Normal | 164 |
| High | 1 |
| Gender | Frequency |
| Male | 626 |
| Female | 651 |
| Age Group | Frequency |
| Under 25 | 84 |
| 25-40 | 487 |
| 40-60 | 495 |
| Above 60 | 211 |
Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is essential to the growth, development, metabolism, immunity, bone health, and mental health of people. Its deficiency has been linked to health disorders such as prostate cancer, depression, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and rickets.
Said Dr Rajeev Sharma, VP, Medical Affairs, Tata 1mg: “Changing food habits and an indoor lifestyle with inadequate exposure to sunlight have led to a drastic increase in cases of vitamin D deficiency. The much higher prevalence in young adults can also be attributed to lower consumption of vitamin D-containing foods like fortified cereals and oily fish. However, seasonal variations in exposure to sunlight can also be a likely explanation, especially during winters. Unspaced and unplanned pregnancies in women with dietary deficits can lead to worsening of vitamin D status in both mother and child.”
Said Dr Prashant Nag, Clinical Head, Tata 1mg Labs: “Vitamin D levels should be checked regularly in cases of obesity, mal-absorption syndrome or softening of the bones (osteomalacia), or if the patient is getting treatment for TB. Vitamin D levels can also be checked along with regular full-body checkups, which are recommended to be done every six months or at least once a year. Infants and children under the age of five, pregnant and breastfeeding women, teenagers and young women, people over the age of 65, and those with limited sun exposure are the most vulnerable to Vitamin D deficiency.”
The human skin hosts a type of cholesterol that functions as a precursor to vitamin D. When exposed to UV-B radiation from the sun, it turns into vitamin D. Having enough exposure to sunlight and consuming foods rich in vitamin D such as egg yolks, oily fish, red meat, and fortified foods can help prevent the deficiency.
