Hypovitaminosis-D in medical students: Unrecognized or Undertreated
Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is a pandemic, non communicable disease in India and worldwide. Vitamin D, which is technically a hormone rather than a fat soluble secosteroid responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphate and multiple other biological effe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Perspectives In Medical Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.pimr.org.in/karunakaran-vol-6-issue-3-2018.PDF |
| Summary: | Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is a pandemic, non
communicable disease in India and worldwide. Vitamin D,
which is technically a hormone rather than a fat soluble
secosteroid responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of
Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphate and multiple other biological
effects. Researchers found that shift workers, indoor and
healthcare workers are at an increased risk to develop Vit-D
deficiency due to reduced outdoor time and sunlight exposure.
Aims and Objective : The rationale of this study was to
find the Vit-D (1,25 OH2 Vit D) levels in apparently healthy
medical students in Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences,
Karimnagar.
Materials & Methods: The present study was done in
General Medicine outpatient department, Vit-D levels were
assessed in randomly selected 300 medical students with BMI
of 18.5-24.9kg/m2, who had no past medical illness. 3ml of
fasting venous sample from cubital vein was collected and
analyzed for Vit-D levels by ADVIA –CENTAUR-XP automated
analyzer by chemiluminescence immunoassay within 12 hrs.
Results: The total number of sample was 300 medical
students, of which 160 were females and 140 were males.
Among the girl students 77% (123) were Vit-D deficient and
21% (33) were having insufficiency. Among the Boys 66% (92)
were deficient and 21% (30) were insufficient and 13% (18)
were having normal Vit-D levels. Among the 300 medical
students, 278 (92.7%) were having low vitamin D levels and
only 22 (7.3%) were having normal Vitamin D levels.
Conclusion: A very high percentage of students were
Vit-D deficient which correlates with higher incidence among
health care workers. Limitations for the present study are it’s
a cross sectional study than longitudinal study. No validated
questionnaire was used, analysis method used was not gold
standard, needs study in a larger population group. However
it is a safer practice to supplement all the students with Vitamin
D supplements |
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| ISSN: | 2348-1447 2348-229X |