HYDERABAD: In an alarming trend, an increasing number of women from across the city who wear the burqa or observe purdah are being diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency on account of inadequate exposure to sunlight. Exposure of at least hands or feet to sunlight every day for 15-20 minutes is necessary for the vital compound to be absorbed into the body, advice doctors.

"Around 15 per cent of the body should be exposed to sunlight for around 20 minutes a day. It could be hands or feet," National Institute of Nutrition deputy director Dr N Lakshmaiah told TOI. "Otherwise supplements in the form of conventional tablets should be used regularly."

Scientists from the NIN, who are now working on a study on vitamin D deficiency, said women wearing the veil are prone to the deficiency, more than ones who do not. Studies have also been carried out in Saudi Arabia which showed deficiency levels between 76 per cent and 85 per cent among women there, NIN scientists pointed out.

City doctors also voiced concerns, pegging the susceptibility levels to around 35 per cent more than those who do not wear the burqa.

They estimate roughly 65 out of 100 patients who complain of muscle pains are those who wear the veil.

"Many burqa-clad women do not venture out. That coupled with the garment directly blocking sunlight makes them suffer from osteoporosis and various psychosomatic disorders. Based on my experience, I would say that these women have a 30 to 40 per cent increased chance of being vitamin D deficient," says Mazharuddin Ali Khan, a senior orthopaedic surgeon at Owaisi Hospital.

Khan says that medication is pre-emptive as getting a test done is expensive costing around 2,500 rupees. Exposure to sunlight is also a 'mood elevator' apart from stimulating improvement in bones and muscles.

"Around 65 per cent such patients I receive wear the burqa. The reason is the same. The deficiency is because the burqa blocks most of the sunlight," Dr Ahrar Ahmed Feroz from Olive Hospital said.

He said number of cases have increased in the past couple of years when patients have been diagnosed with muscle and bone pain and even dementia on account of low vitamin D intake.

Doctors said they are not advising patients to shed the burqa, but maintain women should expose themselves to sunlight everyday. Feroz said exposure to sunlight causes 'mild pinkness to the skin and is equal to 20,000 international units of vitamin D.'

He said though deficiency is noticed in burqa clad women, those using sunscreens or staying indoors for too long also suffer from it.

