BMJ  2008;336:1451 (28 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39619.479155.3A

Letters

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in Scotland

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

I agree with Holick¹ and Sievenpiper et al² about the urgent need to highlight the neglected subject of vitamin D deficiency in the United Kingdom. We have found in our general practice in Edinburgh a (to us) surprisingly high prevalence of gross vitamin D deficiency. The deficiency affects not only our South Asian patients but also a considerable number of those with white skin colour.

Between 2005 and 2007, blood samples were taken from 99 patients aged 15-85. We included patients suspected of having a possible vitamin D deficiency: patients of South Asian origin or other ethnic minorities, patients with vague musculoskeletal symptoms or overweight, patients taking antiepileptic drugs, patients using sunscreen or make up, housebound patients, and patients with little exposure to sunlight. The figure shows our as yet unpublished results.

View larger version (27K):   Vitamin D concentrations in 99 patients aged 15-85 with suspected vitamin D deficiency by ethnic group

 
According to . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Sighthill Health Centre, Edinburgh EH11 4AU

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