Nutrition
Vitamin D Deficiency: What You Need To Know
You know you need it. But quite possibly you could be one of 80 to 90 per cent Indians who lack Vitamin D. Here’s what could happen to you with low levels of Vitmain D in your body.

Your body needs Vitamin D to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphate, that are in turn needed for the normal mineralisation of bone, muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and general cellular function in all cells of the body. You also require Vitamin D for its immuno-modulatory properties that help you fight infections. Despite its major role in the body, you may be at the risk for Vitamin D deficiency because it naturally occurs in a few foods and moreover, if you stay in a region that is often cold, or suffer from milk allergies, or follow a strict vegan diet, surely you might need supplements in time to avoid health complications. Most of the indians lack Vitamin D due to increased indoor lifestyle, pollution that hampers the synthesis of Vitamin D, cultural practices such as burqa and purdah system, and unspaced-unplanned pregnancies in women with dietary deficit, notes Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 2018.
Related story: Healthy Foods That Are High In Vitamin D
Here are some major health issues you could face with lack of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D Deficiency: What You Need To Know
- Body aches
- Bone pain
- Poor concentration
- Risk of Osteoporosis
- Hypertension
- Depression
- Risk of cardiovascular diseases
- Osteopenia
- Renal damage
- Risk of type-2 diabetes
- Osteomalacia
Source: Journal of Renal Endocrinology
EXPLORE MORE
If you think bulking up means eating anything and everything just to gain mass, you might be setting yourself up for fat gain. Here are 6 clean bulking foods that support lean muscle growth.
Easy on the stomach, rich in fibre and protein, this soup will become your next favourite once you try it.
The monsoon season is increasingly becoming synonymous for infections, digestive issues, and seasonal flu. Put a stopper to it with a healthy diet and immunity boosting foods.
A cooling and gut-friendly South Indian dish, ganji annam is made by fermenting cooked rice with curd and milk. Light, nourishing, and easy to digest: perfect for summer days or simple comfort meals.