Research Article

Epidemic of Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Management: Awareness among Indian Medical Undergraduates

Table 1

Vitamin D: percentage of student’s response awareness of vitamin D.

Question (%)

Status of vitamin D deficiency in India
 Only in high risk groups60 (23.8)
 Urban population119 (47.2)
 Epidemic proportions45 (17.8)
 Rare21 (8.3)
High risk groups for vitamin D deficiency
 Infants, pregnant, and lactating women192 (76.1)
 Elderly15 (5.9)
 Patients with diabetes mellitus6 (2.3)
 People with naturally fair skin23 (9.1)
 None of the above16 (6.3)
Problems associated with vitamin D deficiency
 Bone and skeletal disorders238 (94.4)
 Diabetes mellitus2 (0.7)
 Cardiovascular disease1 (0.3)
 Cancer1 (1.1)
 Autoimmune disorders4 (1.5)
 None of the above2 (0.7)
Sources of vitamin D
 Green leafy vegetables43 (17.0)
 Sunlight that passed through glass83 (48.0)
 Milk57 (22.6)
 Egg yolk21 (8.3)
 None of the above10 (3.9)
Adequate sun exposure to achieve sufficient vitamin D levels in New Delhi
 Sun exposure (10 am–2 pm) on exposed arms and legs107 (42.4)
 Sunlight passed through glass (10 am–2 pm) on exposed arms and legs46 (18.2)
 Sunlight exposure through glass (2–4 pm) on exposed arms and legs9 (3.5)
 Sun exposure (7 am–10 am) on exposed arms and legs79 (31.3)
 None of the above11 (4.3)
Minimum amount of sun exposure required for synthesis of vitamin D in New Delhi
 1 hour/day87 (34.5)
 30 min/twice a week81 (32.1)
 2 hours a day51 (20.2)
 4 hour/twice a week24 (8.7)
 None of the above11 (4.3)
RDA of vitamin D
 600 IU62 (24.6)
 800 IU84 (33.3)
 1000 IU55 (21.8)
 2000 IU13 (5.1)
Ever taken vitamin D supplement
 No58 (23)
 Yes, with estimation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels61 (24.2)
 Yes, without estimation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels132 (52.3)
Recommended form of vitamin D supplement for nutritional deficiency
 Alfacalcidol19 (7.5)
 Cholecalciferol101 (40.0)
 Calcitriol105 (41.6)
 Either of the above22 (8.7)
 None of the above5 (1.9)
Active biochemical form of vitamin D
 Alfacalcidol2 (0.7)
 Calcitriol133 (52)
 Cholecalciferol99 (39.2)
 Ergocalciferol7 (2.7)
 None of the above18 (7.1)
Vitamin D serum levels in an adult indicate
 Insufficiency at 20–29 ng/mL; deficiency ≤20 ng/mL46 (18)
 Insufficiency at 10–19 ng/mL; deficiency ≤15 ng/mL50 (19.8)
 Insufficiency at 20–29 ng/mL; deficiency at ≤30 ng/mL56 (22.2)
 Insufficiency at 20–29 ng/mL; deficiency at ≤10 ng/mL35 (13.8)
 None of the above65 (25.7)
Dose regime of vitamin D3 recommended for treatment of vitamin D deficiency
 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 once a week for 6–8 weeks69 (27.3)
 60,000 IU once a week for 8 weeks29 (11.5)
 5000 IU once a week for 10 weeks86 (34.1)
 8000 IU/day for 6 months22 (8.7)
 None of the above46 (18.2)
Biochemical form of vitamin D most commonly associated with hypercalcemia and hypervitaminosis
 Calcitriol84 (33.3)
 Alfacalcidol37 (14.6)
 Cholecalciferol105 (41.6)
 None of the above37 (14.6)
Are calcium supplements required for all in treatment of vitamin D deficiency
 Yes164 (65)
 No88 (34.9)