CHITRAL: The deficiency of vitamin D in women has reached alarming proportions here, warn doctors.

They told Dawn that hypovitaminosis D rendered women vulnerable to serious diseases, so the reasons for its high incidence should be ascertained through a clinical study.

The doctors said most of the diseases that the women suffered from in the area were caused by the deficiency of vitamin D and calcium and that “crisis” was worsening.

They said vitamin D deficiency was stressing out the people in the mountainous region as the treatment left them with very little to spend on food and other needs.

The doctors said inadequate exposure to sunlight and malnutrition could be the major causes of the lack of vitamin D.

They call for study to ascertain reasons for it

They called for a clinical study to ascertain the reasons for the issue and suggest corrective measures.

The doctors feared that the persistent deficiency of vitamin D could impair the immune system of women and thus, rendering them vulnerable to a variety of diseases.

Senior physician Dr Ruknuddin told Dawnthat he had seen almost all women visitors suffer from vitamin D deficiency.

“During my medical practice of two and a half decades in this region, almost every woman I examined suffered from hypovitaminosis D,” he said.

Dr Ruknuddin said a high percentage of women visitors to the hospital were found to be suffering from the pain and fragility of bone that was a direct outcome of vitamin D deficiency.

He said women lacking vitamin D also complained about fatigue and anxiety.

The doctor said the prolonged deficiency of vitamin D caused women to develop insulin resistance and regrettably, the number of diabetic patients was on the rise.

He observed that interestingly, a very small number of men were found to be suffering from vitamin D deficiency.

Dr Ruknuddin said the patients were advised to take vitamin D supplements regularly for a long period but they were beyond the reach of a household with limited income.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2024