All these years I have been teaching that Vitamin D deficiency is normally seen in females especially in reproductive age; but more amongst housebound women and those, who do not consume a diet rich in Vitamin D (but more important is exposure to sun). Some time back I wrote that in elderly males and females, Vitamin D deficiency can not only produce aches, but also, unsteadiness of gait.

I am writing this article to draw the attention of general practitioners to the fact that leading labs like Metropolis in Mumbai, report many samples of young and middle-aged male patients, whose Vitamin D levels are low. In fact in one statistical report, Metropolis laboratory has stated that the incidence of low levels in males was only 10% less compared to females.

What does this signify? Is it because our modern males stay in closed AC homes, offices and cars and hardly expose themselves to the sun? Or is that the young generation likes to avoid milk? The fact is that next time if you see a male patient, who complains of aches or a vague myopathic weakness of muscles, do not forget to ask for Vitamin D level because this is a treatable condition.

Finally, I am not very sure whether in the past the above scenario did not exist because of the fact that Vitamin D levels were not being asked for, or they were not being done by average good laboratories.

Ex. Hon. Physician, Jaslok Hospital and Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, Ex. Hon. Prof. of Medicine, Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital, Mumbai 400 008.