Why Is Vitamin D Deficiency So Common in Türkiye?

We have a sunny country, but vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in all age groups… Explaining the reasons for this, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Prof. Dr. Yaşar Küçükardalı also listed the solutions…
Vitamin D is one of the important vitamins in our body that is soluble in fat, synthesized in large part in the skin by the sun's rays, and can be taken up in part by food, and plays a role in many vital functions.  "The spring is ahead... Therefore, it is useful not to miss the sunny days to take vitamin D," said Prof. Dr. Yaşar Küçükardalı, Internal Medicine Specialist, touching on the points of curiosity in this regard. Here are the explanations…

What are the Benefits of Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is one of the important vitamins that regulate bone health and calcium-phosphorus metabolism in our body. In addition to being a vitamin, it also acts as a hormone. It strengthens immunity, reduces the risk of getting diseases such as heart, cancer, and diabetes, and prevents depression.

What Are the Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency?

The role of genetics in vitamin D metabolism is far below predicted. Environmental factors, dietary habits, and lifestyle play a major role in risk factors. Smoking, low weight, inflammatory bowel diseases with lack of absorption, and some medications (diuretics, cholesterol, cortisone, thyroid, and fungal drugs ) can also cause vitamin D deficiency. Skin color is also a risk factor. For example, people with darker skin are more likely to be vitamin D deficient because the sun will be less likely to synthesize vitamin D in the skin. According to the climate, vitamin D deficiency rates also vary. In summer, the rate of vitamin D deficiency in society may be 25 percent, and in winter, this rate may be up to 70-80 percent.

How to Tell If You Are Vitamin D Deficient?

Vitamin D levels can be determined by a simple blood test. It is useful to monitor the vitamin D level once every 3 months after the start of the treatment and once a year after reaching the normal level. If this value is around 30 nanograms, it means that it is sufficient for our body. It should be remembered that the risk of vitamin D deficiency is higher in people with osteoporosis, bone tissue loss, kidney disease, nutritional deficiencies, pregnant women, elderly people, children, people with frequent infections, people with impaired calcium metabolism, people who smoke, people with low sun exposure, and people who use drugs that may lead to vitamin D deficiency. Scans should be given more attention to these people.

What Foods Contain Vitamin D?

Vitamin D requirement is met mainly by the synthesis of vitamin D under the skin by sun exposure and activation of vitamin D in the liver and kidneys. However, when we look at it as a food, we can say that meat is more common in fatty fish such as milk, eggs, and especially egg yolk, salmon, mackerel, sardines. In addition, foods such as carrots, mushrooms, and rose hips also contain vitamin D. Mushrooms are an important source of vitamin D. When consuming, it should be ensured that it is not cooked too much and does not lose its water.

How is Vitamin D Stored?

For vitamin D, we should sunbathe our face and hands between 10 am and 3 pm for 15-30 minutes without applying protective cream. If necessary, we should take a supplement with the advice of a physician. Furthermore,

• No smoking.
• Efforts should be made to consume foods containing vitamin D within the possibilities.
• If medications that can cause vitamin D deficiency are used, vitamin D levels should be monitored regularly.

 Where Do We Make Mistakes?

Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in Türkiye. It seems that we have a high vitamin D deficiency. One of the most important factors that reveal this picture is: the low consumption of milk and dairy products, partially low sun exposure, and insufficient follow-up and treatment. Some of our traditional characteristics, our clothing style, may play a role in this. And as a society, we have become more indoors. We know that vitamin D deficiency is higher in geographical areas where winter lasts for a long time. For example, the deficiency rate of around 30 percent in Izmir can reach 80 percent in Erzurum. Therefore, the risk of osteoporosis increases, and bone fracture frequency is high. According to a study conducted on 111 thousand people in Türkiye and covering the whole society; 63 percent of them have vitamin D deficiency. In the special group of newborns, children, pregnant women, and young adults, vitamin D deficiency is up to 86 percent, and in the elderly population 40-50 percent. These rates vary depending on where older individuals live. For example, it is seen that this rate is low in those living with their families, while vitamin D deficiency rates are higher in those living in nursing homes. It is also observed that it is lower in males and higher in females in elderly individuals.
Press Coverage: sozcu