According to the US National Institute of Health, NIH, sun rays cannot penetrate a skin that is brown and thick. As a result, Vitamin D stored in the liver does not spread to the body and brown skinned people face acute shortage of Vitamin D.
Bangladeshis fall in this category and doctors are thinking about adding Vitamin D to processed food.
They also recommend staying out in the sun to absorb Vitamin D.
Dr Md Taslim Uddin of BSMMU told Bangla Tribune, “If the government takes some initiatives to add Vitamin A and D then the deficiency will be met.”
Sun rays are the main source of Vitamin D and it’s also available in sea fish, salmon, tuna and mackerel.
Fish and cow liver, cheese, egg yolk, Mushroom also contains Vitamin D.
In the USA and Canada, Vitamin D is added to milk.
Dr Taslim Uddin says, “Women often face acute deficiency since they cover up in the sun; also as our skin is brown, penetration of D plus dissemination from the liver is difficult.”
In the West, people lie on the beach to get Vitamin D and since modern homes do not have open space, the deficiency has risen.
BSMMU’s Dr Mashiur Rahman says, “With absence of adequate Vitamin D, bone and muscle weakness take shape, leading to Osteoporosis.”
Pregnant mothers need Vitamin D and therefore, are prescribed Calcium supplements.
To get Vitamin D, a person can apply sun screen and remain in the sun for 15 minutes, he added.
“One hour of sun ray absorption in seven days is enough.”