“ASSESSMENT OF VITAMIN D STATUS IN DIFFERENT WORKING GROUPS & THE ROLE OF VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION- A PILOT STUDY”
Seshathri E., Ruckmani A.*, Malligai E., Lakshmipathy Prabhu R., Maignanakumar R.
ABSTRACT
Background: Though vitamin D deficiency can occur due to lack of sunlight exposure, to what extent deficiency
occurs in relation to duration of sunlight exposure is not known. Hence this study was undertaken to estimate
vitamin D level in different occupational groups which had different duration of sunlight exposure. Aim: To
assess vitamin D status in different occupational groups. Methodology: A Prospective observational study was
conducted with 20 Construction workers (CW), 20 Information Technology Day (ITD) and 20 Night IT (ITN)
employees in Chennai. Vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus and blood sugar levels were assessed for all 3 groups.
Those who had vitamin D deficiency(<20ng/ml) were given vitamin D 60000 IU weekly for 8 weeks and above
parameters reassessed. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: Mean baseline vitamin D level in
CW was 26ng/ml, 23ng/ml in ITD and 16ng/ml in ITN. Three in ITD had vitamin D >100ngl/ml and were
excluded from study. 8 had normal vitamin D, 20 had insufficiency and 29 had deficiency. After vitamin D
supplementation to the deficient group, vitamin D reached normal in 26 subjects and 3 to insufficient status. Post
treatment level was 68.36ng/ml in CW, 50.06ng/ml in ITD and 44.19ng/ml in ITN groups. The proportion of
increase was marked in CW. There was increase in calcium, phosphorus and decrease in blood sugar after vitamin
D supplementation in all three groups. Conclusion: IT night workers are at a great risk of developing vitamin D
deficiency and they can adopt occupational modifications or have rotating shifts to get adequate sunlight exposure.
Keywords: Vitamin D, IT, Construction, Calcium level, blood sugar.
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