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

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 (