Vitamin D Deficient in Sunny India? Why, and the Real Fix

Roughly 70-90% of Indians are vitamin D deficient or insufficient despite abundant sunshine.

On a 25(OH)D blood test, below 20 ng/mL is deficient, 20-30 is insufficient, 30+ is sufficient.

The standard Indian fix is a 60,000 IU cholecalciferol sachet weekly for 6-8 weeks, then monthly maintenance.

Best sun is mid-morning to early afternoon on bare arms and legs for 15-30 minutes — through glass and sunscreen it barely works.

Diet alone cannot fix a true deficiency; egg yolk, fatty fish and fortified milk only top up.