Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

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.

More For You

MIT-Anantha_Chandrakasan

Chandrakasan was selected from a group of internal candidates, MIT president Sally Kornbluth said in a statement announcing the appointment. (Photo credit: MIT)

MIT

Prof Chandrakasan becomes MIT's first Indian-American provost

PROF ANANTHA CHANDRAKASAN has been appointed as the new provost of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), becoming the first Indian-American to take on the role. Currently serving as MIT’s chief innovation and strategy officer and dean of engineering, Chandrakasan will assume his new position on July 1.

Chandrakasan was selected from a group of internal candidates, MIT president Sally Kornbluth said in a statement announcing the appointment. She said he brings an exceptional record of innovation and leadership to the position.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India cancels London flight over aircraft unavailability

The flight was scheduled to depart on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo: Air India)

Air India cancels London flight over aircraft unavailability

AIR INDIA’s flight from Ahmedabad to London, operating under a new code following the June 12 crash, was cancelled on Tuesday (17) due to the unavailability of an aircraft. The airline cited airspace restrictions and precautionary checks as the cause.

The service, now listed as flight AI-159, replaced the earlier AI-171 flight which crashed shortly after take-off last Thursday (12), killing 270 people, including 29 on the ground. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had 242 passengers and crew on board, with only one survivor.

Keep ReadingShow less
Conference highlights religious persecution in Bangladesh and Baluchistan

Conference at Westminster Highlights Religious Persecution in Bangladesh and Baluchistan

Conference highlights religious persecution in Bangladesh and Baluchistan

A high-profile conference on religious freedom in Bangladesh and Baluchistan was held at Portcullis House, Westminster, organised by the Dharmic Ideas & Policy Foundation (DIPF), hosted by Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East), and supported by APPG leaders on Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB), including Richard James Shannon MP and Julie Jones on 9 June 2025.

Chairing the conference, Mr Blackman condemned the ongoing persecution of minorities in both regions, describing the situation as dire and deteriorating.

Keep ReadingShow less
abortion protests

Protesters hold up placards during a march through central London on June 17, 2023, to call for decriminalisation of abortion. (Photo: Getty Images)

Parliament to vote on abortion law reform for Women

MPs are expected to vote on Tuesday on a proposed change to abortion laws in England and Wales that would prevent women from being prosecuted for ending their own pregnancies.

Under current law, women can face criminal charges for terminating a pregnancy beyond 24 weeks or without the approval of two doctors. The law still carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave

The spike in temperature is due to a period of high pressure currently centred over the UK

iStock

UK weather forecast says heatwave is coming and it could last for days

Britons are set to enjoy a burst of summer sunshine as forecasters predict a heatwave over the weekend, with temperatures expected to rise higher than those in parts of southern Europe. The Met Office anticipates that the UK could experience its hottest days of the year so far, with the south-east likely to be the warmest region.

Temperatures to reach 32°C in parts of the UK

According to the latest weather forecast heatwave predictions, temperatures could peak at 32°C on Saturday, 21 June, and Sunday, 22 June in areas including London and Kent. These highs would surpass conditions in traditional holiday destinations such as Portugal and southern France.

Keep ReadingShow less