Is there A Need to Reasses Reference Levels of Vitamin D for India?-A Preliminary Survey of Vitamin D Levels in the Normal Population of Punjab

Brinder Chopra, Sukhpreet Singh, Kamaljit Singh

Abstract: INTRODUCTIONMajority of population of India including the state of Punjab lives in areas receiving ample sunshine throughout the year. Despite this fact various studies have shown wide prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Indians. There is a need to establish reference ranges for vitamin D in Indian population as the referral values currently being used are based on western studies. The actual prevalence of vitamin D deficiency then needs to be re-evaluated in our population based on these new reference ranges. This is because a large number of Indians have lower levels of vitamin D without actual signs and symptoms of deficiency. AIMS & OBJECTIVESThe present pilot study was planned to get a preliminary estimate of vitamin D levels present in healthy normal population of Punjab. METHODOLOGYThe study subjects included were 52 healthy adults who did not have any signs and symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency. Serum Vitamin D levels were estimated in all the subjects by Chemiluminiscence method. Other parameters measured were serum Calcium, Phosphorous, Albumin, Total protein, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) & Cholesterol. RESULTSVitamin D levels in the subjects ranged from 10.5 to 49.19 nmol/l with a mean value of 16.88 nmol/l. None of the subjects had sufficient levels (75-250 nmol/l) of vitamin D whereas 45 had frank deficiency (

Keywords: Vitamin D, Normal population, India, Reference levels, Punjab