India Has Plenty Of Sunlight, So Why Is Vitamin D Deficiency Still So Common?

India gets plenty of sunlight, yet vitamin D deficiency remains common across the population.

Experts link low levels to limited sun exposure, indoor lifestyles, clothing, skin pigmentation, diet and certain health conditions.

A 2025 Indian expert consensus described vitamin D deficiency as highly prevalent in the country.

The panel, comprising 41 endocrinologists, noted that varying definitions of deficiency have made it difficult to establish its exact scale.

Research among different population groups reflects the concern.

A hospital-based study involving 26,346 apparently healthy people in Gurugram found that 59% had vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL, while another 34% fell within the study’s insufficient range. Only 7% recorded levels above 40 ng/mL.

Sunlight plays an important role because the skin produces vitamin D when exposed to UVB radiation.

Spending most of the day indoors, covering much of the skin, and other lifestyle factors can therefore limit production despite living in a sunny country.

Medical conditions can contribute as well. Certain gastrointestinal, kidney and liver disorders may interfere with vitamin D absorption or metabolism.

Low vitamin D levels can affect the musculoskeletal system. Severe deficiency in adults may lead to osteomalacia, a condition associated with bone pain and muscle weakness.

Taking vitamin D supplements without medical guidance is not advisable.

Blood tests can help establish whether a person has a deficiency and whether supplementation is necessary. Excessive intake can cause health problems.

For many people in India, the challenge may not be a lack of sunlight itself, but limited exposure combined with lifestyle and dietary factors.

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