Vitamin D has been traditionally known as anti- ricket factor or Sun Shine vitamin and acts like a steroid hormone thereby influencing the expression of genes. It is unique nutrient because it can be synthesized endogenously in skin by exposure to sun, but contrary to this vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent in India, a finding which is unexpected in a tropical country with abundant sunshine and remains the most under diagnosed and under treated nutrional deficiency of the world. Vitamin D is essential not only for skeletal growth but is important for improving immune status in elderly and deficiency has been linked with high prevalence of osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancer and infections like tuberculosis. The present study was undertaken with the aim to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D in elderly urban population of this hilly state of India with abundant sunshine and with people having good economic condition. In this study, a total of 150 elderly people, including 70 male and 80 elderly women above the age of sixty years were screened for their vitamin D (25OH – D) status from the month of January 2019 to December 2019. Out this 101 (67.3 %) were having Vitamin D levels below 20 ngm/ml, 28(18.6%) were having vitamin D level between 20-30 ngm/ml. Only 21 (14%) of the elders had levels above 30 ngm/ml. This study has shown a very high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in urban elderly population of Jammu and needs intervention by creating public awareness along with food fortification and adequate exposure to sun light and increased mobility of elder people.

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Harleen Kaur

Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Jammu, J &K, India