Context: A report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) has sounded the alarm over a worsening public health crisis in India: Vitamin D deficiency. 

Decoding the context: With one in five Indians affected, the think tank has called for a national campaign, pricing reforms, food fortification and better diagnostics to tackle what it describes as a “silent epidemic”.

Learn More:

• Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for calcium and phosphorus absorption, and thus crucial for bone health. It also plays roles in immune function, cell growth, and inflammation reduction.

ICRIER Report Findings:

• Prevalence is highest in eastern India (38.81%), with urban areas more affected than rural ones due to lifestyle factors.
• Despite India’s abundant sunlight, deficiency is widespread due to systemic, cultural, and policy barriers.

Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency – The ICRIER report identifies multiple factors driving the crisis

• Lifestyle Changes:
  • Urbanization: Indoor-centric lifestyles, high-rise buildings, and office work reduce sun exposure, especially in metros (40-60% deficiency).
  • Screen Time: Increased device use among youth limits outdoor activity, particularly affecting adolescents.
• Environmental Factors:
  • Pollution: High particulate matter in cities blocks UVB rays, hindering Vitamin D synthesis (e.g., Delhi’s air quality index often exceeds 300).
  • Climate: Extreme summers/winters discourage outdoor activity in regions like Rajasthan or Northeast.
• Dietary Shortfalls:
  • Low Intake: Only 8-14% of Indians meet recommended dairy consumption (rich in Vitamin D). Foods like fish, eggs, and fortified milk are costly or culturally avoided (60% vegetarian population).
  • Lactose Intolerance: Limits milk consumption, especially in southern/eastern India.
  • Unfortified Staples: Wheat, rice, and oils lack mandatory Vitamin D fortification, unlike iodized salt.
• Biological and Cultural Factors:
  • Skin Tone: Darker skin (high melanin) requires 3-6 times more sun exposure for Vitamin D synthesis, a challenge for most Indians.
  • Clothing Norms: Practices like burqa/purdah or full-body coverage reduce skin exposure, particularly among women.
• Sunscreen Use: Increasing use in urban areas blocks UVB rays.
• Socio-Economic Barriers:
  • High Costs: Testing costs ?1,500+, and supplements range ?48-130 for 10 tablets, unaffordable for low-income groups. 18% GST on supplements adds burden.
  • Obesity: Impairs Vitamin D metabolism, with India’s obesity rate rising (22% adults, NFHS-5).

The ICRIER report underscores Vitamin D deficiency’s far-reaching consequences

• Skeletal Disorders: 46% of children at risk of rickets; 80-90% of elderly face osteoporosis, increasing fractures and disability.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Linked to cardiovascular diseases (30% higher risk), type 2 diabetes (25% prevalence in adults), and cancers (e.g., breast, prostate).
• Mental Health: Associated with depression and fatigue, affecting quality of life.
• Immunity: Weakens resistance to infections (e.g., tuberculosis, COVID-19), straining healthcare systems.
• Maternal/Child Health: Deficiency in pregnant women correlates with neonatal issues (e.g., low birth weight)

Source : Down To Earth