Vitamin D Deficiency: A Growing Concern in Thailand
Thailand, renowned for its sunny climate, is facing a silent epidemic – vitamin D deficiency. According to recent data from the Health Examination Centre at Vejthani Hospital, a staggering 99% of individuals who underwent health examinations were found to be lacking in vitamin D. This alarming statistic is consistent with previous surveys and research, which highlight the dangers and detrimental effects of vitamin D deficiency on the body and its increased risk of disease.
Ironically, while vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining good health, excessive intake can also lead to negative consequences. Therefore, it is essential to strike a balance and consider age appropriateness when determining the daily recommended intake.
The Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is no ordinary vitamin, as it is the only one that the body can produce on its own. This essential nutrient offers numerous benefits for the body, including:
- Enhanced absorption of calcium, promoting stronger bones
- Reduction of stress and improved sleep quality
- Relief from rheumatic pain
- Optimization of hormonal synthesis
- Stimulation of the immune system to prevent allergies and autoimmune diseases
- Protection against osteoporosis and control of blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and the risk of coronary heart disease
However, despite these advantages, vitamin D deficiency is rampant among Thai people, as explained by Dr. Rajanaree Titisuwan, the Health Checkup Center Manager at Vechathani Hospital. Individuals who work indoors and purposely avoid sun exposure to protect their skin are especially prone to vitamin D deficiency. In response, healthcare providers assess each individual’s vitamin levels through a blood test and recommend personalized vitamin D supplements.
According to Mahidol University Ramathibodi Hospital Faculty of Medicine, urban areas in Thailand exhibit higher rates of vitamin D deficiency compared to rural regions. Moreover, younger individuals are more susceptible to this deficiency, a trend not uncommon in Asian countries like South Korea and Malaysia, likely due to a generational preference for avoiding sunlight.
Of particular concern are children in the new generation who have limited exposure to sunlight due to their sedentary and shaded lifestyles. Building strong bones and proper growth heavily rely on adequate vitamin D levels, highlighting the urgency to address this pressing issue.
An extensive survey conducted by the Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University revealed that vitamin D deficiency among Thai children has increased dramatically over the past decade, with 40% of surveyed children found to be deficient. This worrisome trend is mirrored in the other participating countries, including Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
The Perils of Vitamin D Deficiency
Insufficient intake of vitamin D can lead to various health complications, such as:
- Rickets in children
- Cartilage issues in adults
- Increased vulnerability to respiratory tract infections
- Impaired clearance of infections in individuals with vitamin D deficiency
- Risk of joint diseases, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis
- General muscle weakness, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), and inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases
While it is vital to avoid vitamin D deficiency, excess intake of this vitamin can also lead to health complications. Termed “excess vitamin D poisoning,” it poses a significant danger, especially for growing children. Severe symptoms can even result in organ failure and mortality.
Faculty of Pharmacy at Mahidol University warns that consuming excess vitamin D over a prolonged period can lead to anorexia, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, trembling in the extremities, muscular pains, dehydration, bleeding under the skin, abdominal and bone pain, high urinary calcium, calcium kidney stones, and hypercalcemia and phosphate level imbalances in the blood.
Boosting Vitamin D Levels
Increasing vitamin D levels can be achieved through two methods:
- Exposing the skin to sunlight for at least 15-20 minutes daily between 8:00-10:00 and 16:00-17:00 while engaging in outdoor activities or exercise.
- Incorporating foods rich in vitamin D into the diet, such as tilapia, carp, salmon, mackerel, canned tuna, egg yolk, liver, milk, and mushrooms.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D for all age groups is as follows:
- 6-12-month-olds: 10 micrograms
- 1-70-year-olds: 15 micrograms
- Individuals over 70: 20 micrograms
Addressing the Ticking Vitamin D Time Bomb
The alarming rise in vitamin D deficiency in Thailand calls for immediate action. The Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University, Ramathibodi Faculty of Medicine at Mahidol University, and Faculty of Pharmacy at Mahidol University are working tirelessly to address this pressing health concern. By raising awareness, recommending supplements, and promoting sun exposure and a balanced diet, they aim to improve the overall vitamin D status of the Thai population.
Sources:
– Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health
– Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University
– Ramathibodi Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University
– Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University
– Vejthani Hospital, Vibhavadi Hospital, Sikarin Hospital
Key points:
Thailand is located in a landscape where there is sunshine most of the year. But of the group of people who had a health examination at the Health Examination Centre, Vejthani Hospital, 99% were found to be absent.vitamin d This is in accordance with previous surveys and research, the dangers, the effects on the body and the risk of disease from the deficiency.vitamin d On the other hand, getting too much vitamin D has the same negative effects. received bodyvitamin dOf 2 methods, which will be added to the deficient group, age appropriateness must be considered with the amount that should be received daily.
benefits of vitamin d
vitamin dIt is considered the only vitamin that the body can create on its own. There are benefits of vitamin D for the body, such as
It helps make the calcium you eat better absorbed. reducing stress and anti-depressant helps to sleep better Reduces rheumatic pain Helps the functioning of the hormonal synthesis system Stimulates the immune system in the body Helps to prevent allergies. Autoimmune disease (SLE) helps the body absorb calcium well. Help prevent osteoporosis, thin bones, help control blood sugar levels, blood pressure, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Thai people do not have vitamin D.
Dr Rajanaree Titisuwan, Health Checkup Center Manager, Vechathani Hospital He said that in order to check the vitamin levels of each individual, it will be done by taking a blood test. which is obvious today Most of the people who come for the examination will find that 99% of them have a lack of vitamin D. Because the work will be in the office, so it will rarely see the sun. Avoid sunlight because you want to protect your skin. The doctor will consider and provide vitamin D supplements that are suitable for each individual.
corresponds to thatMahidol University Ramathibodi Hospital Faculty of Medicinepublished information on “Vitamin D, a silent threat in Thai people,” said In urban areas, vitamin D is more deficient than in rural areas. In the North East there is less vitamin D deficiency than in the Midwest. Younger people are more deficient in vitamin D. This is consistent with Asian countries such as South Korea and Malaysia, perhaps due to their young population. tend to avoid the sun more than the elderly
What is worrying is the new generation of children whose activities are very rarely exposed to sunlight, whether playing sports, swimming, staying in the shade, although the body will build bones in the first 20 years and vitamin D will be very important in strengthening bones and growing.
anyway Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University Conducted a survey on the nutrition and development of Thai children between 6 months and 12 years of age, who are under the south-east Asia nutrition survey (seanuts) in 4 countries: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. In Thailand, a sample of 3,100 children was collected in Bangkok, Lop Buri, Chiang Mai, Phang Nga, Sisaket and Kalasin about 10 years ago.
Vitamin D deficiency in Thai children has increased from 10 years ago to 40% or in the number of 1 in every 3 children surveyed and in the other 3 countries participating in the project that experience the same problem.
Dangers of Vitamin D Deficiency – Excess
If the amount of vitamins is too small to be in a state of deficiency
leads to rickets in children cartilage in adults having fits or tooth decay It can make it easier to get viral infections in the respiratory tract. And after infection, the body’s clearance mechanism in people with enough vitamin D is better than in people with vitamin D deficiency.
Vibhavadi Hospital says if there is vitamin D deficiency or low vitamin D for a long time the result will cause joint disease Osteomalacia Rickets Vitamin D deficiency is also associated with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases the risk of falling. and can cause bone fractures Vitamin D deficiency can affect other aspects of your health beyond your bones.
such as muscle weakness, type 1 diabetes, MS – Multiple Sclerosis, and a group of inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, infectious diseases, and insulin resistance.
Although vitamin D should not be deficient. But it shouldn’t get too much either, with the Department of Health providing information if you get too much vitamin D it can affect the body This condition is called “excess vitamin D poisoning” is dangerous for growing children. And in some cases, severe symptoms can lead to death from the failure of different organs in the body.
In addition, the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University said that the negative effects of consuming too much vitamin D for a long time include anorexia, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and irregular heartbeat. The tip of the hand, the tip of the foot is trembling. Muscular pains in the back and hands-feet, dehydration, bleeding under the skin, abdominal pain, bone pain, hypercalcemia and phosphate levels in the blood. High urinary calcium Calcium kidney stones
Add vitamin D to the body.
Vitamin D is obtained in two ways: 80-90% of the body’s vitamin D is obtained from the production of vitamin D in the skin after exposure to sunlight (UVB) and approximately 10-20% from the diet. So vitamin D can be increased in the body in 2 ways.
1. Get sunlight when doing outdoor activities or exercise. By exposing the skin to sunlight for at least 15-20 minutes every day between 08.00-10.00 and 16.00-17.00
2. eat Foods commonly found in tilapia, tilapia, carp, salmon, mackerel, canned tuna, egg yolk, liver, milk, mushrooms, etc.
The appropriate amount of vitamin D per day for all ages is
6-12 month olds should get 10 micrograms a day, 1-70 year olds should get 15 micrograms a day. People over 70 should get 20 micrograms a day.
refer to:
Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health
Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University
Ramathibodi Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University
Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University
Vejthani Hospital, Vibhavadi Hospital , Sikarin Hospital
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