A study recently revealed that 70-90% of Indians including 88% urban Mumbaikars are Vitamin D deficient. It also showed that pregnant women in India have up to 84 percent Vitamin D deficiency.

A new study on Wednesday revealed that 70-90 percent of Indians are Vitamin D deficient and this condition was significantly associated with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

What happens due to Vitamin D deficiency?

This finding by PG Talwalkar, Diabetologist at Shushrusha Hospital in Mumbai, further confirms that Vitamin D deficiency leads to chronic diseases.

"In adults, Vitamin D deficiency is associated with low bone mass and muscle weakness, which results in increased risk of fractures and bone disorders such as osteoporosis," said Srirupa Das, Medical Director, Abbott India, Mumbai.

Why are Indians Vitamin D deficient?

The causes of Vitamin D deficiency in a sun-drenched country like India are manifold, said the researchers.

Most people do not receive adequate exposure to sunlight, as modernised lifestyles have resulted in less time spent outdoors for work or leisure.

Moreover, high levels of air pollution can hamper Vitamin D absorption in the skin.

Mumbaikars and pregnant women are very deficient in Vitamin D

"Pregnant women in India have up to 84 percent prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency, which also correlates with the level of Vitamin D deficiency in their newborns," said Das.

In the study conducted on 1,508 individual, researchers said that in Mumbai there is 88 percent prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in urban adults.

Correlation of Vitamin D deficiency with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes

The study also revealed that 84.2 per cent of Type 2 diabetes patients were Vitamin D deficient, as were 82.6 percent of hypertension patients.

"Our study also investigated co-occurrence of deficiency with hypothyroidism and obesity or overweight condition. A majority (76 percent) of hypothyroid patients had low levels of vitamin D," said Talwalkar.

"Moreover, 82 percent of patients were obese, indicating that there may be a link between the deficiency, its comorbidities and body weight," he added.

"These findings highlight the need for routine screening to ensure early diagnosis and effective management of Vitamin D deficiency to help reduce the burden and risks associated with non-communicable disease," Talwalkar added.

Read: School students in UP to get sun exposure for Vitamin D and calcium

Read: Children born with lower vitamin D can end up with high blood pressure: Study

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