Vitamin D - The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D

by Dr. Nandita Shah

Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because our bodies create this important vitamin when the skin is exposed to the sun. The deficiency of this vitamin is becoming more common in cities all over the world.

This is because many people spend most of their time living and working indoors and avoid the sun or use sunscreen because of the fear of skin cancer. Smog and pollution in cities can also block the sun’s rays. Indians prefer not to get darker and also avoid the sunlight. In a random study of people from Indian metro cities, we found that 50% had Vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D is very important for calcium absorption. It also helps boost immunity by fortifying the white blood cells, which defend against bacteria. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties.

A link has been made between influenza and Vitamin D deficiency in countries which experience long winters with low levels of sunlight (Source). Depression, mental health problems and Seasonal Affective Disorder have also been linked to low Vitamin D levels in patients (Source).

Other diseases which can be caused by a deficiency in Vitamin D include high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, excess fat accumulation around vital organs, different types of cancer, atherosclerosis (thickening of arteries), osteoporosis (deterioration of bone mass) and osteopenia (thinning of bones).

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