AIIMS Experts Advise Vitamin D Supplements for Delhi Residents Amid Rising Pollution

As Delhi grapples with high air pollution levels blocking sunlight, experts at AIIMS-Delhi have recommended strategies to maintain adequate vitamin D levels—a vital nutrient sourced primarily from sunlight.

Dr. Ravinder Goswami, professor in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at AIIMS, advises individuals across all age groups to consider vitamin D supplementation during the winter months, as guided by their doctors. He highlights that moderate supplementation, such as 60,000 IU of cholecalciferol, can often be taken without prior testing. However, he warns against using active vitamin D analogues or injectables, which pose risks of toxicity.

“Active analogues like calcitriol are therapeutic agents for kidney diseases and should not be used indiscriminately,” Dr. Goswami explained. “Cholecalciferol is both safe and cost-effective, converting into its active form in the body without causing harm. Overuse of supplements can lead to severe issues like heart complications.”

AIIMS research reveals that outdoor workers in Delhi—hawkers, street vendors, traffic police, and gardeners—typically maintain healthy vitamin D levels (around 20 ng/ml) due to regular sunlight exposure between 10 am and 2 pm. In contrast, up to 60-80% of indoor workers are vitamin D deficient unless they take supplements. This highlights a stark contrast between outdoor and indoor populations in urban areas.

Dr. Soma Saha, a researcher in the same department, notes that construction workers often avoid deficiency due to prolonged exposure to sunlight during work hours. However, individuals staying indoors, including office workers and those with chronic illnesses like kidney disorders, tuberculosis, or epilepsy, are at higher risk of deficiency.

Vitamin D is critical for calcium absorption in the gut, aiding in bone mineralization and preventing issues such as bone pain, muscle weakness, rickets, and osteoporosis. Chronically low levels can lead to severe complications, including fractures, short stature, and hunchback in older adults.

Dr. Goswami emphasized a cautious approach toward food fortification in sunlight-abundant countries like India to avoid side effects such as hypercalcemia or kidney stones. He recommends targeting supplementation to those diagnosed with deficiency rather than universal fortification.

The findings underscore the need to assess vitamin D status across various urban demographics and tailor strategies for deficiency prevention, particularly among indoor workers and vulnerable populations.