Indore Faces Alarming Vitamin D Deficiency: 1 in 3 Affected, Lifestyle Blamed

• A health survey in Indore revealed that 36% of 9,000 people tested have Vitamin D deficiency, affecting one in three individuals.
• Dr. Gaurav Shelgaonkar from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital attributes the rise to changing lifestyles, reduced sun exposure, long office hours, work-from-home, and dietary shifts.
• The hospital's annual survey found similar deficiency rates in both men (2164 out of 5964) and women (1288 out of 3454), with children also increasingly affected due to less outdoor play.
• Vitamin D is crucial for bone health, calcium transport, fighting depression, reducing fatigue, and maintaining hair health; deficiency can lead to weak bones and osteoporosis.
• To combat deficiency, Dr. Shelgaonkar recommends 10-15 minutes of direct sun exposure between 9 AM and 12 PM, along with consuming Vitamin D-rich foods like milk, tofu, millets, and non-vegetarian options.