Generally, most of the population of the country suffers from vitamin D deficiency at some level or the other. However, if a pregnant woman has this deficiency, then the child will also be born with vitamin D deficiency, doctors have warned.
People who are less exposed to sunlight after birth and children or adults who are confined to a room are at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency. Meanwhile, there are some medications that reduce the amount of vitamin D or interfere with the storage of vitamin D in the body.
Vitamin D deficiency is a matter of concern in the entire country. Leave aside the common people, even a section of doctors do not have clear information on this subject. It is important to spread awareness among the people about this.
Professor Pranab Kumar Chowdhury told Prothom Alo that mothers need to be given vitamin D supplements even before delivery. Apart from this, vitamin D deficiency in childhood can be prevented through scientific measures. The most important thing is to conduct extensive awareness programmes about vitamin D deficiency.
*This report was published in the print and online editions of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Naureen Ahmad Monisha.