Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Northern India

Abstract

Background and Objective: In India, widely consumed food items are rarely supplemented with vitamin D3. Indians do not take use of unlimited sunshine which can synthesize vitamin D in their body. Deficiency of vitamin D can lead to rickets, osteoporosis along withcardiovascular diseases, asthma, diabetes mellitus, cancer and autoimmune diseases. It was planned to estimate vitamin D (25-OH- Vitamin D3) in normal population. Methods: 25-OH-Vitamin D3 was estimated in three hundred males with equal number of females with the age range of 2- 80 years. They were divided into four groups depending upon their age. In 53.7% of normal population was found to be having vitamin D lower than 30 ng/ml. The deficiency was more prevalent in females as compared to males. Vitamin D level was significantly lower at the age groups of 2-20 and at 61-80 than other groups (i.e. 21-40 and 41-60 years).Interpretation: Most Indians do not get adequate sun exposure to produce required amount of vitamin D. People use sunscreen and to have fairer complexion, they avoid having use of sunshine. The public needs to be made aware of benefits of vitamin D. JMS 2016; 19(1):18-20

Severe type 2 leprosy reaction with COVID-19 with a favourable outcome despite continued use of corticosteroids and methotrexate and a hypothesis on the possible immunological consequences

“…The preliminary results of the RECOVERY trial support use of dexamethasone for up to 10 days in patients who were receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, but report no benefit and possible harm in the subgroup of hospitalised patients who were not on respiratory support (Dexamethasone in Hospitalized Patients with Covid-19 — Preliminary Report, 2020 ). Oral steroids are critical to managing severe T2LRs and need to be started early and in moderate to high doses to control its severe skin and systemic manifestations and prevent permanent neurological damage ( Narang and Kamat, 2020 ). Methotrexate has been shown to be an effective steroid sparing agent (7.5−20 mg/week) and has been used in ENL in conjunction with steroids ( Narang and Kamat, 2020 , Perez-Molina et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Oral steroids are critical to managing severe T2LRs and need to be started early and in moderate to high doses to control its severe skin and systemic manifestations and prevent permanent neurological damage ( Narang and Kamat, 2020 ). Methotrexate has been shown to be an effective steroid sparing agent (7.5−20 mg/week) and has been used in ENL in conjunction with steroids ( Narang and Kamat, 2020 , Perez-Molina et al, 2020 ).…”