Dealing with vitamin deficiency

by NADEEM BADSHAH

SUNLIGHT AND SUPPLEMENTS BEST WAYS TO PREVENT RICKETS AND OSTEOPOROSIS

BRITISH Asians are being urged to make the most of the sunny weather as many in the community suffer from a lack of vitamin D.

“Urgent action” is needed to advise the Asian community to take vitamin D sup­plements in order to prevent diseases like rickets, experts have said.

It comes as activists criticised NHS proposals to reduce prescriptions of vita­min D doses in a bid to slash costs.

People of south Asian origin are at higher risk of conditions like rickets and osteoporosis, which leads to softer and weaker bones, due to their darker skin.

Rickets was rife in Victorian times, but it was stamped out in the country in the 1950s. However, it has made a comeback due to poor diets and Britons suffering a lack of sunlight. There were 160 cases of rickets in children under 16 in the past two years, with more than half from an ethnic minority background.

Dr Kailash Chand, a former GP and honorary vice-president of the British Medical Association, told Eastern Eye: “We do need some urgent action, and I think it is an issue of health education too.

“Awareness of the risks of vitamin D deficiency should be increased in all Asian families. Pre-natal care includes checking vitamin levels and ensuring that any deficiencies are supplemented.

“It would be simpler to supplement all pregnant Asian women with vitamin D. The problem for south Asian women is that some cover themselves up and are not exposed to sunlight.

“As a result, they have to rely on their diet. But if you have a diet that is low in dairy and meat, which many Asian wom­en have, you will not get what you need.

“What is needed is dialogue between health educators and the Asian commu­nity to see whether there is a level of ex­posure that would be culturally accepta­ble, but which would provide sufficient exposure,” he explained.

In a recent study, University of Toronto researchers analysed UK hospital admis­sions and found that between 1997 and 2011, cases of rickets have almost dou­bled in children under 15.

Dr Ravi Jayaram, a paediatrician in Chester, believes that supplements are the best way to get enough of the “sun­shine vitamin”.

He said: “You would think by having a good diet, you would have enough vita­mins. But actually, apart from oily fish, eggs, and formula milk, there isn’t really much vitamin D in the foods we have.

“[And] Some breakfast cereals are forti­fied as well.”

The National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) says the planned cuts to vitamins, minerals and probiotics in NHS prescrip­tions would impact high risk groups.

It is working with experts and MPs to highlight the best way for people to get the recommended levels of 10 micro­grams of vitamin D a day.

Fizz Thompson, clinical director for the NOS, said: “There is clear evidence that groups of patients at high-risk of de­ficiency should be maintained on vitamin D even when replete, because they find it difficult to generate the vitamin through the usual route of sunlight exposure.

“As a result, we feel that high risk groups of patients should be maintained on prescribed vitamin D.”

“Clinicians should be give the freedom to prescribe appropriately to take in to account patients’ individual circum­stances and use guidance where available and relevant,” Thompson added.

The NHS says rickets can be prevented by eating a diet that includes vitamin D and calcium, spending some time in sun­light, and taking supplements.