Epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency and its management: Awareness among Indian medical undergraduates

Vitamin d deficiency is prevalent across all age groups in epidemic proportions. the purpose of this study was to acquire a baseline assessment and create awareness among medical students regarding vitamin d. a cross-sectional,voluntary survey was conducted among undergraduate medical students. data were collected using a questionnaire which assessed the level of knowledge students had with regard to where vitamin d comes from,what it does for health,how much is recommended,factors that affect its levels,and deficiency management. majority of students were unaware that vitamin d deficiency has attained epidemic proportions. though bone and skeletal disorders as a complication of vitamin d deficiency were known,a large number were unaware of systemic consequences (diabetes mellitus,cardiovascular diseases,and cancers). only one-third of respondents were aware of duration and timing of sun exposure required for adequate serum vitamin d levels. however,we observed lack of awareness among students regarding the various biochemical forms,dose,and duration of vitamin d supplementation for treatment of nutritional deficiency. our study highlighted a lack of knowledge about the importance of vitamin d,worldwide prevalence of vitamin d deficiency,and its management among medical students. promoting vitamin d health awareness,if replicated across populations,could lead to positive health outcomes globally. © 2017 yangshen lhamo et al.