Calcium and Vitamin D Deficiency in Vietnamese: Recommendations for an Intervention Strategy

Abstract

In recent years, reports have described various roles of vitamin D in human health. Vitamin D deficiency has emerged as a significant public health problem throughout the world. Even in the Vietnamese context, it has been reported to be present in a majority of the population in spite of the wide availability of sunlight. Vitamin D and calcium are essential nutrients for bone health. The proposed health benefits of vitamin D and calcium have attracted increased interest from health care professionals, the media, and the public. The aim of this paper is to summarize the published data on vitamin D and calcium intake as well as on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Vietnamese population, and to provide recommendations for a proper strategy to control calcium and vitamin D deficiency in this population. The national authorities should adopt policies aimed at improving vitamin D and calcium status by using measures such as dietary recommendations, food fortification, vitamin D supplementation, and judicious sun exposure.