Vitamin D Deficiency in India

Vitamin D Deficiency in India 

A recent webinar titled “Vitamin D Deficiency: Myths vs Reality”, part of the "Healthy India, Happy India" initiative , highlighted that Vitamin D deficiency has reached epidemic levels in India, affecting 40% to 90% of the population.

 Key Insights:

• lifestyle factors like indoor living, sunscreen use, and sun-protective clothing leads to Vit D deficiency.

• Deficiency leads to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

• requires mid-day sun exposure, dietary sources (fish, egg yolk, fortified milk, mushrooms), and supplements, as only 20% of oral Vitamin D is absorbed.

• Need targeted screening, fortified food programs, and awareness of over-supplementation risks.

• Vitamin D’s broader benefits beyond bones—supports blood pressure regulation, reduces inflammation, and may lower risks of diabetes, arthritis, respiratory infections, and certain cancers.

About Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble compounds crucial for the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, supporting bone health and several other biological functions.

 Key Forms

• Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol) – Plant-based, from ergosterol

• Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) – Synthesized in human skin via UVB sunlight from 7-dehydrocholesterol

• Other lesser-known forms: D1, D4, D5

Sources

• Sunlight: Main natural source (via UVB exposure)

• Diet: Fish, eggs, fortified milk/cereals

• Supplements: Widely recommended, especially in areas with low sunlight exposure

• Food Fortification: Common in countries like the U.S.

 Metabolism & Function

• D3 → Calcifediol (25(OH)D) in the liver

• Then → Calcitriol (1,25(OH)₂D) in the kidneys/immune cells, the biologically active form

• Calcitriol binds to vitamin D receptors (VDRs) present in many body tissues

 Health Roles

• Essential for bone growth and density

• Prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults

• Linked to immune function, inflammation control, and possibly chronic diseases (evidence for benefits in already sufficient individuals remains inconclusive)

 History

• Discovered in 1922 during studies on rickets

• Adolf Windaus won the 1928 Nobel Prize for research on sterols and vitamin D

 Types of Vitamin D