KOCHI: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday organised a continuing medical education (CME) programme to discuss the various health threats faced by people of the country due to deficiency of vitamin-D.
The CME was an initiative launched under the IMA’s new ‘Rise and Shine’ programme, which was attended by over 70 leading doctors from the city.
Addressing the gathering, endocrinologist Bobby K Mathew said, “vitamin-D plays a crucial role in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the food we eat and minerals that are essential for healthy bones. In addition to benefiting the bone, vitamin-D wards off diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart attack.”
IMA national president A Marthanda Pillai and honorary secretary general Dr K K Aggarwal in a joint statement said, “a serious concern for the medical fraternity is that the majority of the people in our country are unaware of the fact that they are vitamin-D deficient.”
Metabolic Disorders and Endocrinology chairman Ambrish Mittal and IMA, North Paravoor branch, secretary Sasidharan in a joint statement said, “vitamin-D deficiency is rapidly gaining epidemic status, yet it is the most under-diagnosed and under-treated nutritional deficiency in India and the world.”