High prevalence of low dietary calcium, high phytate consumption, and vitamin D deficiency in healthy south Indians.

Background: Data on the vitamin D status of the population in a tropical country such as India have seldom been documented. Vitamin D deficiency is presumed to be rare.

Objective: The objective was to document the dietary habits and concentrations of serum calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and parathyroid hormone of Indian urban and rural populations.