One of the most common nutritional deficiencies affecting adult women involves calcium.
Calcium is an essential nutrient for the human body and its deficiency is known
to cause osteoporosis and several other chronic diseases, including hypertension
and colon cancer. Calcium is also essential for muscle contraction, second messenger
formation, secretion of neurotransmitters and hormones. Availability of calcium
for these essential functions is dependent upon dietary intake of calcium and vitamin
D which is directly responsible for its absorption from the intestine.
There is a wide prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide due to lifestyle and
other factors. Traditionally, Vitamin D was primarily associated with bone health,
and it is well understood that vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets in children
and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults. However, with recent research, vitamin
D deficiency has been associated with a wide range of diseases like cancer, autoimmune
disorders, diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis etc.
Inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake due to diet and lifestyle modifications
makes it essential to provide it through supplements. The use of daily calcium and
vitamin D supplementation by women in their childbearing years and beyond is believed
to reduce the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis and other chronic diseases.