Vitamin D in acute and chronic disease

Abstract

It has emerged over the past 10-20 years that the change in our lifestyle has led to the widespread deficiency of vitamin D. These lifestyle changes include the avoidance of sunlight (voluntary or greater reliance on artificial light), the reduction in the consumption of milk, and the worldwide epidemic of obesity. It is estimated that, worldwide, as many as one billion people may be vitamin D deficient. The elderly are especially vulnerable, but children and younger adults also commonly have deficient levels. Classically, vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets in children (bone deformities) and osteomalacia (demineralisation) of bone in adults.