Gastroenterologist Dr Rajeev Jayadevan recently highlighted, through a post on X, the urgent necessity for Vitamin D reference ranges that are tailored for the Indian population.
Dr Vijay Rao, the secretary-general of the Indian Medical Association’s Telangana chapter, explained that Vitamin D deficiency causes issues with one’s bones and muscles.
There are several ways to obtain Vitamin D, the most common being sun exposure on one’s skin, though this may not be sufficient for individuals with darker skin or older adults.
Dr Jayadevan raised questions on whether these values are appropriate for all populations, given the variability in individual factors that influence Vitamin D synthesis and metabolism.
“Rather than labelling the entire populace deficient, this suggests that the normal healthy values for India are different. This is a knowledge gap that requires further study,” he added.