Saadiya Aziz Karim.
Vitamin D - The Neglected Vitamin.
Ann Abbasi Shaheed Hosp Karachi Med Dent Coll Jan ;23(02):69-71.

The discovery of vitamin D, often described as the "miracle vitamin" or the "sunshine vitamin" and its impact on health initiated wide-scale food fortification in the western world 30 years ago. The developing world, however, continues to remain deprived, poverty, poor health care and lack of education compounding health issues in men, women and children alike. Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem in all age groups, a recent world review depicted its prevalence (<20 ng/mL) in 58% adults, 72% pregnant and lactating mothers and 71% infants in Pakistan whereas the situation in the Western world is relatively better with 20% Canadians, 34% Americans and 15-47% British exhibiting deficiency of this vitamin1. Numerous studies in Pakistan confirm the magnitude of the problem in this country2. A study conducted at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, measured vitamin D levels in pregnant women in labour and in cord blood of their neonates and revealed inadequate to severe vitamin D deficiency in 78% mothers and 88% new-borns at birth with a positive correlation between maternal and cord blood values3. This shocking revelation is an indicator of a severely health-deprived nation.

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