Lecture throws light on vitamin D deficiency

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, February 19

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences organised an academic lecture on vitamin D deficiency and risk of heart disease at Guru Nanak Dev University here on Wednesday.

Discussing strategies for addressing the concern about vitamin D deficiency, research students and faculty members of various departments participated in the lecture. Its objective was to create awareness about the causes for vitamin D deficiency and remedial measures to be taken to avoid it.

Dr Davendra K Agrawal, senior vice-president for research and biotechnology from the Western University of Health Sciences, California, addressed the lecture. He has made numerous contributions to the field of biochemistry, physiology, metabolism, and photobiology of vitamin D for human nutrition.

He said the main reasons for vitamin D deficiency were minimal exposure of skin to the sunlight and insufficient intake of protein such as fish, milk and egg.

“The rising incidence of vitamin D deficiencies is a serious concern for the country as its occurrence rate is from 70 to 100 per cent among the general population. Vitamin D or the sunshine vitamin is naturally synthesised by the action of sunlight on the human skin, but even in a tropical country like India, vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent with abundant sunlight through the year. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, lack of which can lead to calcium deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency causes inhibition of calcification of bones that results in weak bones and physical deformation,” said Dr Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi, head of the Pharmaceutical Science Department.

“Fish and its products are good sources of vitamin D, but the diet does not provide adequate amount of vitamin. Inadequate sun exposure also negates the potential benefits of plentiful sunshine for the synthesis of vitamin D in humans. Many factors can contribute to vitamin D deficiency such as over use of sun screen, wearing clothes that cover most of the skin, and working inside all day in an air-conditioned atmosphere,” he added.