Lack of sunshine vitamin affects children’s growth

Irrespective of the age group, India, at the moment has a high rate of Vitamin D deficiency and if studies are to be believed, the prevalence could be anywhere between 80-90 per cent. There has been a growing concern among the medical fraternity about the deficiency and the Indian Medical Association recently held a Continuing Medical Education (CME) in which 50 doctors from Chennai participated to raise awareness about the deficiency. 

Dr Bhuma Srinivasan, senior consultant endocrinologist, Vijaya Hospitals, who was part of the programme, says, “There have been multiple studies conducted across various regions in India that show the levels are as high as even 100 per cent. But we don’t know if these can be extrapolated to general Indian population,” she says. 

Dr Bhuma adds that these studies also show that people across age groups are affected. “Newborns are one among them and this is largely due to the deficiency in the mothers,” she says.

This is largely common among pre-term newborns, points out Dr Narayan Babu, Dean, Kilpauk Medical College and neonatologist. He says, “They are more prone to malnourishment and lowbone density as a result they have the deficiency. One of the reasons for pre-term births is fertility treatment which leads to more twins and triplets, who share the same uterus and are deprived of nourishment. While they may gain nourishment later, their bones may not grow like their tissues or muscles. We have Vitamin D drops for it, but if left untreated there will be a lot of complications,” he points out. 

Believe it or not, we are seeing the deficiency and even rickets among children from affluent families, says Dr Naresh Shanmugam, paediatric hepatologist, Global Hospitals. He says, “With more couples opting for a single child, they are overprotective about them and are not allowing them to be exposed to sunlight.” 

While treatment is available in the form of injections, syrups and tablets, without timely intervention, the physical growth milestones cannot be achieved. “At 18, you cannot rectify it,” says Dr Naresh. Lack of sunlight is one of the biggest causes. “Since juices and milk products are fortified in Western countries, we don’t see such deficiency, though there is inadequate sunlight. Here, the problem is though there is sunlight, but there is inadequate exposure to it and this leads to pigmented skin. The skin type has lower Vitamin D synthesis from sunlight to the skin, when compared to Caucasians. Milk malabsorption can also be a reason for deficiency,” says Dr Bhuma. 

Dr Bhuma says, “Evidence shows link between Vitamin D deficiency, pancreas and immune system. It affects the insulin sensitivity. Some studies show people turning diabetic due to the deficiency and being cured of diabetes when the deficiency is tackled. But we don’t have a randomised trial to establish this, so we don’t know if we have to recommend it for all diabetics. But I would correct it, if one of my patients has Vitamin D deficiency.”