Osteoporosis Day / Bone Health Day = October 20, Aarogyam bhashkaradichchet / आरोग्यं भास्करादिच्छेत् – Part 3/भाग 3

Few questions that we received From MAY 17^th, 2023 article :

1.Why do we talk about Vitamin D and Calcium together?

a.Vitamin D helps Calcium to absorb in bones. If Vitamin D is low, calcium will not be absorbed appropriately in Bones. Hence, Vitamin D and Calcium are always spoken about together .

 2.Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency?

i. There are no symptoms specific to Vitamin D deficiency. They are common and non specific like fatigue / tiredness, aches and pains

3.What happens if Vitamin D levels in our blood exceed?

a.Vitamin D levels when they exceed in the blood, may encourage too much absorption of calcium. This may lead to calcium stone formation. Other nonspecific symptoms can also include decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, weakness, constipation. May also lead to Disorientation, Confusion, and others.

Today we will see: WHY ARE FEMALES MORE PRONE TO WEAKER BONES & HOW TO OBTAIN VITAMIN D – (through natural and artificial ways)

Calcium is a very important mineral in blood as it helps to keep bones and teeth healthy, plays important role in blood coagulation, helps muscles to contract, and regulates heart (maintaining normal heart rhythm) and nerve functioning.

One main reason when blood is lost due to haemorrhage, there is drop in calcium levels; definitely there are other reasons too. They could be more of associated reasons with haemorrhage.  Haemorrhage is nothing else but blood loss due to any reason – example injury in any gender & menstruation in females. In females, due to levels of oestrogen rise and fall during menstruation cycle – so can also calcium levels

Also, during pregnancy – especially during the last trimester – to meet the demands of rapidly mineralizing skeleton of the foetus, there is significant transplacental calcium transfer

Also, during breast feeding, there is loss of calcium in the breast milk. Now, amongst all this the females generally have one priority to take care of their kids, families and they forget to take care of themselves – hence the minerals and vitamins level keep on decreasing. For them the priority becomes their kid and family, ignoring the self – which is the main reason for poor health being more in Women.

Also, it is scientifically known that women lose about 10% of their bone mass in the first 5 years after menopause.

Hence, Women suffer from weak bones and osteopenia and osteoporosis more than men and also at an early age. Hence, besides eating calcium rich food, it is also essential to maintain proper Vitamin D levels in blood.

We have already spoken about calcium rich foods in the previous article of May 20, 2023. Let us now understand how to maintain appropriate Vitamin D levels in blood.

As we all are aware that Vitamin D is the sunlight vitamin, meaning available only through sunlight. So, what are the conditions that we need to follow to obtain Vitamin D naturally.

1. These days’ sunblock creams are in trend. Hence, if we have to absorb Ultraviolet B radiation from sunlight to be converted to Pre-vitamin D3, WE HAVE TO AVOID USING SUNBLOCK CREAMS AND LOTIONS while sitting in sun
2. Clothes that we need to wear during this process has to be extremely thin and Close to  white color – this becomes next to impossible in daily life especially in India – as we do not have a private balcony and we cannot do it in public place
3. The best time for exposure to sun is between 10 am – 4 pm as stated not only in our Vedic Books but also by Modern Scientific Research.
   • a. Our Vedic Books say – when the sun is directly on our head. Hence, depending upon the city / country – generally the head is straight above us anytime between 10 am – 4 pm.
   • b. Now generally this time is difficult for the working professionals and also for most of the housewives, as it is the peak time for work
4. Duration of exposure – definitely depends on the color of your skin. If you have light skin color, the exposure time will be less and if you are dark – the exposure time will be more
5. Last but not the least: This point is totally my observation and nothing to do with any scientific research – I have observed in my grandparents – who would sit to get basked in sun – they would do so after having a slight oil massage.

At that time, I was a kid and honestly had no knowledge on this, so never asked them any questions. And today, when I have knowledge, they are no more to be asked – hence I call this as pure observation.

At later stages of their lives, whenever I got their reports checked, to my surprise, their Vitamin D was always normal. Hence, I also put up the point number 5; though modern science says that an oil massage has no effect. But I am sure that Oil Massage definitely has some effect – some scientific reason behind it as our ancestors did nothing without a science behind it – though it was communicated to us in the form of fables and stories.

Now when the above conditions do not seem possible to get natural vitamin d, what are the other sources to obtain it. There are many sources in the market – which I am sure – people would be aware about them.

1. Sachets
2. Injections
3. Tablets
4. Drops

Here, what I write is pure my experience of 13+ years in the field. People who take sachets, tablets and drops – either have no effect at all or the effect of increase in Vitamin D in blood is extremely slow. It is sometimes so slow, that by the time you do your yearly blood report the next year, your Vitamin D in blood has further reduced and making our bones weaker.

Hence, for me and my clients, I have always prescribed injections and we are extremely sure – that after the injection how much vitamin d will rise. Of course – be it tablets or injections – should be taken only after Medical Advise – because consuming more Vitamin D either in the form of tablets / sachets / drops / injections – can do Harm than benefit. Vitamin D should be taken only and only after a blood report is done. 

Remember –Take Away

1. Vitamin D & Calcium supplements in any form should be taken  only after a proper medical advice – not by advise of any supplement seller or by talks with friends and relatives 2.  Females are more prone to weaker bones because they share their nutrition with their children and also loose during significant periods of Hormonal Changes. Remember – If Family First – Then Women First.

Hence, do take good care of all the Women in your family.

Questions Invited: Please feel free to share your queries on dr.vidushi.agrawal@gmail.com (please be careful about the spelling in email id)– we will take question and answers in the next article on 3^rd Saturday of July 2023  ie July 15, 2023. Please send your queries by the 10^th of July 2023. You may choose to reveal your name or if not, let us know we will put as anonymous