HYDERABAD: Cases of Vitamin B12 and D deficiency are rising rapidly in the city. While 60-65 per cent of the cases are turning up at the orthopaedics desk with complaints of Vitamin D deficiency, 80 per cent are seeking help from neurologists’ over B12 deficiency-induced complications.
A sizeable population below the age of 35 are being diagnosed with memory loss and gait disturbances (swaying while walking) owing to vitamins’ deficiency, according to doctors.
While these two essential vitamins affect brain, spine, muscle and bone health in a major way, they also can cause permanent damage if they remain deficient for a prolonged period.
Vitamin D deficiency is often associated with multiple sclerosis. Its deficiency causes memory disturbances too, but its major harmful impact is osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Patients develop generalised body aches, weakness, joint pains, lower back pain, knee pain, fatigue and muscle pains due to vitamin deficiency. Apart from impacting bones, they also lead to mood alteration, depression, infertility and hormone imbalance.
“Around 90 per cent of cases we see in orthopaedic OPD are Vitamin D-deficient. As per the latest research, the ideal time to be in the sun is between 11 am to 2 pm, but a majority of us work in indoor settings,” said Dr Saketh Kolla, consultant joint replacement and regenerative orthopaedic surgeon, Gleneagles Global Hospital.
Dr Kolla explained that the fact that Indian skin texture makes conversion of Vitamin D from skin to liver and kidneys six times less, it means that even after one hour of exposure, people can have a deficiency of the vitamin.
