Review Article
Year: 2016 | Month: September | Volume: 3 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 58-64
Calcium and Vitamin D Deficiency Situation in Bangladesh: A Review
Moumita Dey1, Shaikat Chandra Dey2
1Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
2Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
Corresponding Author: Shaikat Chandra Dey
ABSTRACT
This review shows that deficiency of Calcium (Ca) and vitamin D is prevalent in Bangladesh. During the past two decades, rickets has been considered as a public health problem in Bangladesh with 8%of children clinically affected in some areas. In Bangladesh rickets occurs mainly due to the deficiency of Ca and literature survey has proved that Ca supplement is capable of reducing the severity of this disease. The female population of Bangladesh have been found to be vulnerable to low bone density, osteopenia, hypovitaminosis D etc. due to the deficiencies of these two essential micronutrients. Low dietary intake of Ca and vitamin D, lifestyle, clothing, use of sunscreens, home-bound nature of female population has contributed to the deficiency situation. Hypovitaminosis D has been found as a common phenomenon in female population.
Key words: Rickets, Low Bone Density, Osteopenia, Hypovitaminosis.