Kids should spend time outdoors to avoid Vitamin D deficiency: Doctors

Vitamin D, also known as sunshine vitamin, is produced when the skin is exposed to the sun. Hence the results of this study comes as a big surprise since Chennai is sunny for a major part of the year. This vitamin is important for the nourishment of the bones and in insufficient amounts can lead to rickets among children, osteomalacia and osteoporosis among adults. 

The study conducted by Metropolis Healthcare Ltd covered more than a lakh samples between 2012 and 2016 between the 0 to 80 years’ age group. It was found that in the 10 to 20 years’ age group, the deficiency was abnormally high at 88 per cent. The deficiency was also quite pronounced among women at 60 per cent, especially in the 40-50 age group, and among men at 65 per cent.

While talking to DTNext, Dr Naresh Shanmugam, director of Paediatrics, Gleneagles Global Health City, said that nowadays, children barely spend time outdoors. “We come across many cases with high levels of Vitamin D deficiency. They also sweat excessively, especially on the forehead and complain of pain in various parts of the body. A closer diagnosis reveals the deficiency. The main reason for it is that they do not spend time outdoors in the sun and are either glued to technology or play later in the evening,” he added.

Dr Bhuma Srinivasan, consultant endocrinologist, said that the deficiency rates could be higher, but it is only diagnosed in those who have the symptoms. “If a woman has osteoporosis we check for the levels and try to correct it. It is definitely high at as much as 80 to 90 per cent,” she added. 

She explained that it is not just the exposure to sun, but also the time of exposure which is of vital importance. “One needs to be exposed to the morning and mid-day sun. The deficiency can also be due to use of sun screen and in the case of dark skin, the pigment doesn’t absorb ultraviolet effectively,” Dr Srinivasan said. 

However, she also said that high levels of deficiency indicate normalcy. “In fact, during a medical seminar, one of the delegates from USA pointed out that the high levels of Vitamin D deficiency among the population might be an indication that it was a natural condition,” the doctor said.