Research Projects

Deficiency of vitamin D (VDD) is associated with a wide range of non-skeletal effects such as predisposition to autoimmune disorders including type-I diabetes, multiple sclerosis and malignancies. The balance between T helper cells is critical in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Hypovitaminosis D is common in Asian Indians despite plenty of sunshine and relates to their skin pigmentation and poor sunshine exposure. Serum 25(OH)D levels are 20 ng/ml in up to 90% of them and therefore, based on the modern cut off, majority of apparently healthy normal Asian Indians would be classified as vitamin D deficiency. Through, several investigators have highlighted the paradox of hypovitaminosis D in sunny Indian environment; there are only limited studies which have assessed its functional significance. To date, the significance of low serum 25(OH)D in them have been analyzed in terms of its inverse relationship with serum parathyroid hormone levels and variable association with reduced bone mineral content at hip and spine.

Study have shown impairment in the absorption of intestinal calcium in 25(OH)D and its reversal after eight weeks of cholecalciferol supplementation and in a pilot study significant effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on hand grip strength. In vitamin D deficient human subjects, the in vivo Th1 versus Th2 cytokine expression and changes in their response after supplementation with cholecalciferol still remains undefined.

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