SRL’s study on Vitamin D highlights younger women and men at higher deficiency risk

SRL Diagnostics in its recent study on Vitamin D deficiency, conducted an extensive analysis of Vitamin D reports from 37,010 people from four zones across tropical India, only to discover that Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in around 69 per cent of the population. Meanwhile, 15 per cent more were found to be vitamin D insufficient, taking the total proportion of risk-prone Indians to 84 per cent.

As per the study, Males in the age groups of 31-45 and 46-60 (professionals) and women in the age group of 16-30 (adolescent girls and women of child bearing age) are more at risk.

The company opines that skin exposure to the sun is a natural, intended, and most effective source of vitamin D, yet the most neglected. Tests that estimate the level of Vitamin D have become increasingly common, pan-India. Testing for Vitamin D deficiency has been known to protect a majority of the Indian population from joint pains, muscle weakness, cardiovascular disorders and other more serious problems that could be permanently detrimental to one’s health.

The differences between deficiency and insufficiency are conspicuous

• Vitamin D deficiency manifests itself as a bone disease, which is mostly either rickets or osteomalacia
• Whereas insufficiency may be associated with milder disease outcomes, including muscle weakness and fatigue
• Another outcome of this study draws attention to males between the ages of 30 and 60, while adolescent girls and women of child-bearing age (those belonging to the 16 – 30 age group) are more likely to develop vitamin D deficiency, as they require vitamin D in the form of extra supplements for growth
• Women after pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis due to high demands of calcium and vitamin

“There are diagnostic tests to determine Vitamin D levels in the body. It is extremely essential to keep a check on the levels of deficiency in the body as it helps retain calcium. Sufficient vitamin D levels assist the body in reducing bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol, besides helping in the essential repair and maintenance activities in the body. It is directly linked to knee pains and osteoporosis.” said Dr B R Das, President-Research and Innovation, Mentor-Molecular Pathology and Clinical Research Services, SRL Diagnostics.

Doctors are now more focused on the role of Vitamin D in the overall health of people. While research on the impact of Vitamin D on ailments is ongoing, doctors believe it is clearly associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, bone weakness, nerve-related disorders and obesity. Doctors also point out that Vitamin D directly benefits patients with diabetes and cardiovascular ailments. A sizeable body of evidence proves the link between Vitamin D and people with diabetes and heart ailments. The human body’s ideal dose of Vitamin D ranges between 1,000 and 2,000 IU (International Units) per day.

EH News Bureau