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Kashmiri Women Facing Vitamin D Deficiency

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Oct 5: The women of Kashmir have Vitamin D deficiency. This was revealed by a study conducted by Endocrinology department of Kashmir's largest hospital, SKIMS.

Concerned over the health condition of women, the Endocrinology department of SKIMS conducted a study on the affects of mal-nutrition on women. The study conducted by Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar, Director of the SKIMS and his team found that women in Kashmir have vitamin D deficiency, resulting in poor bone health.

Dr Zargar told News Blaze that it took him and his team three years to complete the study. "We checked the apparently normal woman. They were not ill but were found to have Vitamin-D deficiency", he said.

This study, according to Dr Zargar, was conducted to estimate the prevalence of this disorder in the Kashmir valley. "After investigating a huge number of women, the projected number of women with this disorder among a total population of parous females aged ¡Ý 20 years (12,32,827, as per census data) would be 38,691 in the Kashmir valley", he said.

He said that during the study he and his team found Vitamin D deficiency is widespread among the people especially women in Kashmir. "Although this is a universal phenomenon, but in Kashmir it is a bit on a higher side", he said.

The Director SKIMS said that Vitamin D is essential for good health and strong bones.

"In children, vitamin D deficiency causes rickets. Rickets is a bone disease characterized by a failure to properly mineralize bone tissue. Rickets results in soft bones and skeletal deformities", Dr Zargar said. The most common causes of rickets are vitamin D deficiency from a vitamin D deficient diet, lack of sunlight, or both.

He further said that in adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, which results in muscular weakness in addition to weak bones. Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness may indicate vitamin D deficiency, but symptoms may be subtle and go undetected in the initial stages.

"Massive multilateral efforts are required to contain and finally eradicate this problem", Dr Zargar said. It can be difficult to obtain enough vitamin D from natural food sources. For many people, consuming vitamin D fortified foods and adequate sunlight exposure are essential for maintaining a healthy vitamin D status. In some groups, dietary supplements may be needed to meet the daily need for vitamin D.

He said that the study has revealed that the women in Kashmir are not exposed to dietary vitamin-D and direct sunlight - both of these are must for a healthy life.

The Director SKIMS said that the deficiency of Vitamin-D can be overcome by taking an adequate quality of milk and dairy products regularly and spending some time in direct sunlight. "This is not expensive and everybody can afford it", he said.

"Humans tend to get most of their vitamin D from exposure to sunlight, so those who avoid the sun completely are at risk for vitamin D deficiencies. I think people should spend some time in sunlight to overcome Vitamin-D deficiency. It is important for health", added Dr Zargar.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.