Drink milk to avoid calcium, Vitamin D deficiency, say doctors

Bhubaneshwar: Orthopaedics have observed that milk intake among people of Odisha is extremely low in the daily diet regimen as a result of which there is acute vitamin D and calcium deficiency.

This, they said, is causing bone weakness and osteoporosis. In most cases of osteoporotic bones, with a little pressure on the hip bone and a gentle fall on the ground, there is damage to. People would rather prefer vitamin supplements but won't take them from natural sources. Most women in Odisha have very poor bone health because of poor diet, observing fasts and lack of exposure to sunlight.

Dr Sandip Singh, senior consultant, orthopaedics, said a cup of milk for a child and two cups or a glass of milk daily for adults and the elderly is fine to keep the bone health in order. "Many patients with complaints of multiple-joint pain come to the clinic and it is found that their diet lacks calcium and vitamin D. The blood test report reveals very low calcium. Early osteoporosis can lead to disability. Very frequently we come across patients with femur fracture, which primarily happens because of weak bones. The bone health is also revealed when we do bone mineral density test," he said.

He said if the required calcium amount drops, bone ailments set in. In case of vitamin D deficiency, doctors advise oral tablets and sometimes shots to compensate but it is always not advisable to rely solely on tablets.

Dr B K Reddy, orthopaedic surgeon said calcium accounts for 1 per cent to 2 per cent of adult human body weight. Calcium is important is many other contexts also. In blood, 8.5 to 10.5 mg per decilitre of calcium is normal range. Besides bone and teeth, calcium is present in blood, extracellular fluid and muscle. It plays a role in mediating vascular contraction, heart muscle contraction, berve transmission and glandular secretion.

"Milk intake should be proper and daily. We have examples of young women developing joint pain because of fragile bone osteomalacia. They feel pain in bone like pseudo fracture because of deficiency of calcium," he added.