83% women in Kashmir have vitamin-D deficiency: Study
ARSHAD BHAT (Greater Kashmir)
Srinagar: About 83 per cent of the women in Valley are suffering from Vitamin-D deficiency which can cause bone disorder Osteomalacia that in turn can cause generalized weakness, diffused bone pains, and weakness of muscles, a study conducted by Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) Soura says.
Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar, a noted Endocrinologist and Director SKIMS, Soura said
83 per cent women studied were found with Vit-D deficiency– 25 per cent having mild, 33 per cent moderate, and 25 per cent severe deficiency.
Dr Zargar, speaking at a symposium on “Menopause and Osteoporosis” held in support of World Menopause Day (celebrated on October 18) and World Osteoporosis Day (celebrated on October 20), said the study published in postgraduate medical journal also found that 75 per cent of males were also vitamin D deficient.
“The prevalence of the deficiency ranged from 69.6 per cent in the employed group to 100 per cent in the household group,” Dr Zargar said. The deficiency was uniformly prevalent in people of rural and urban areas.
People with the deficiency were prone to develop osteoporosis, a bone disorder, Dr Zargar said.
With menopause the total quantum of the bone progressively decreases, and if a woman has Vitamin-D deficiency before menopause, her problems would get worse after menopause.
According to Dr Zargar the symposium is part of an effort by International Societies for Menopause and Osteoporosis to make people, especially women, aware about the problems caused by menopause and osteoporosis.
Prof Imtiaz Ali, the head Department of Community Medicine; Prof Pervez Koul; Dr Shariq Masoodi, Additional Professor; and Dr Muhammad Ashraf Ganai also spoke at the symposium.