Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continue to be a public health imperative in India, fueling substantial increases in morbidity and mortality. Among NCDs, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension are increasing at an alarming rate. A 2019 pan-India study authored by PG Talwalkar, Vaishali Deshmukh, M.C. Deepak and Dinesh Agrawal has found that Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The study shows that 84.2% of Type 2 diabetes patients and 82.6% of hypertension patients were Vitamin D deficient. This important India-specific finding further confirms the body of research that links Vitamin D deficiency to chronic disease.

In India, multiple studies have estimated that the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is between 70% to 90% of the population, with almost undetectable Vitamin D levels during winter. Moreover, studies show there is no significant variation in deficiency levels across North, South, East or West regions, with each reporting deficiency prevalence of 88%, 90%, 93% and 91% respectively. In Mumbai, a study has found 88% prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in urban adults. Vitamin D is a critical micronutrient that helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the body. These, in turn, are required to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Vitamin D is also important for overall health. Deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. Though Vitamin D can be synthesized endogenously i.e., produced entirely by the body with adequate exposure to sunlight, it remains the most under-diagnosed and under-treated nutrient deficiency in the world.