Widespread vitamin D deficiency among Indian health care professionals

Summary

Information on vitamin D status of Indian health care professionals is limited. Among 2,119 subjects studied, just 6?% were found to be sufficient in vitamin D status. There is urgent need of an integrated approach to detect and treat vitamin D deficiency among health care professionals to improve on-the-job productivity.

Introduction

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide. India has been reported to be one of the worst affected countries. Several single-center studies from India have shown high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Little is known regarding the vitamin D status of Indian health care professionals.

Aim

This study aimed to determine prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among health care professionals in different regions of India.

Method

In this cross-sectional, multicenter study, we enrolled 2,119 medical and paramedical personnel from 18 Indian cities. Blood samples were collected from December 2010 to March 2011 and analyzed in a central laboratory by radioimmunoassay. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] <20?ng/mL or <50?nmol/L, insufficiency as 25(OH)D?=?20?C30?ng/mL or 50?C75?nmol/L, and sufficiency as 25(OH)D >30?ng/mL or >75?nmol/L.

Results

Mean (±SD) age of subjects was 42.71?±?6.8?years. Mean (±SD) 25(OH)D level was 14.35?±?10.62?ng/mL (median 11.93?ng/mL). Seventy-nine percent of subjects were deficient, 15?% were insufficient, and just 6?% were sufficient in vitamin D status. No significant difference was found between vitamin D status in southern (25(OH)D?=?13.3?±?6.4?ng/mL) and northern (25(OH)D?=?14.4?±?8.5?ng/mL) parts of India.

Conclusion

Our study confirms the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency all across India in apparently healthy, middle-aged health care professionals.