Survey shows majority of Indian urban men have Vitamin D deficiency

New Delhi: Majority of Indian urban men have low levels of Vitamin D in their blood which is essential for maximising bone health, a survey has claimed. Deficiency of Vitamin D is a major cause of Osteoporosis, a disease which is associated with women in general after menopause, but also affects men, the study conducted by SRL Diagnostics said.

According to the three-year long pan-India data mining

survey (2012?2014) on Vitamin D, 80.63 per cent of approximately 73 lakh men screened during this period had abnormal Vitamin D levels. "East Zone had highest percentage of abnormality with 86.6 per cent being detected with lower levels of Vitamin D while northern and southern zone had 81.3 per cent and 85.6 per cent respectively.

"Among the four zones, western India showed the lowest

percentage of abnormality with 69.8 per cent," the survey report stated. As per World Health Organisation, Osteoporosis, medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile, comes second to cardiovascular disease as a global health problem. According to statistics, one out of eight men and one out of three women in India are affected by Osteoporosis.

An adequate calcium intake and adequate amounts of Vitamin D are important foundations for maintaining bone density, strength and to prevent osteoporosis.