An Observational study to assess the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in Indian women

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study to encounter the gravity of the vitamin D deficiency problem throughout India so that the physicians take necessary caution and care in the diagnosis and treatment of Vitamin Ddeficiency.Methods:This was a prospective study conducted in a government teaching hospital located in Patna, Bihar, India from March 2018 to February 2020. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in our study the level of vitamin D was done in 840 women, irrespective of the clinical features by the method of electrochemiluminescence. Sunshine exposure was calculated as hours of exposure/day X% of body surface area exposed. Results:In the present study 840 women attending the clinic were taken for the consideration and the vitamin D level were done in them. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (level <20 ng/ml) was 68.24% among women with age <30 years and it was 56.97% among women with age >30years. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 90.19% among illiterate women and it was 41.60% among literate women. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 71.09% among non working women and 38.06% among working women.Conclusion:To reduce the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in India it is very important that the public and private sector work very closely with each other such as the cut off level for the vitamin D deficiency level should be revised in according to the need of the people of India as the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in our study could be the resultof our being over concerned and the internationally set up criteria for its deficiency.

Keywords: Indian women, Prevalence, Vitamin D.