Indians deficient in Vitamin D

New Delhi: Despite ample sunlight, people in India are deficient in Vitamin D which is leading to problems like weaker bones among the population, the Rajya Sabha was informed.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has reported that surveys carried out in India indicate that despite ample sunlight, people are deficient in Vitamin D, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said while replying to a question by nominated member HK Dua this week. The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is in the range of 10 percent to 90 percent across all age groups, he said. The synthesis of Vitamin D in the body is dependent on multiple factors like duration and time of exposure to sunlight, latitude, atmospheric pollution and skin pigmentation. The studies have also shown that the Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with low bone mineral density, leading to weaker bones and fracture risk, Azad said. IANS