Vitamin D is a group of fat soluble secosteroids responsible for a variety of physiological functions and mostly in respect to calcium homeostasis in the body. The major source of Vit D is from sunlight with a few other dietary sources. As Vit D is synthesised in the body it is being considered as a hormone more than a vitamin and has been found to have a role in prevention of various chronic illnesses like Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease.. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of Oral Vit D supplements in patients with documented Vit D deficiency or insufficiency.

Method: Patients(20-70years, both gender) attending outdoors of Darbhanga Medical College and hospital over a period of 6 months(1 january 2017-31^st june 2017) with nonspecific complaints of myalgia, joint pain fatigue were screened for serum Vit D levels and patients who were deficient or insufficient were given oral supplements and levels repeated at 6 and 12 weeks. The statistical significance of improvement was measured by paired student t test.

Results: Most of the patients demonstrated clinical and biochemical improvement after 6 weeks of therapy(p<0.01) and all patients achieved normal levels after 12 weeks of therapy(p<0.001). The gender basis evaluation of the Vit D deficiency turned out not in favour of women who were more deficient as compared to age matched male counterpart and people>60 years were more deficient.

Conclusion: A majority of Vit D deficient people may be asymptomatic. Therefore a keen eye and high index of suspicion is necessary providing a role for screening in patients with non specific complaints and being a routine in people with bone diseases. Oral supplementation is both cost effective and feasible with good patient compliance and hence is an effective method to replinish stores.

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Dr Peyalee Sarkar

Resident, 2nd year, Darbhanga Medical College