Dr Meera Ragavan
Consultant Obstetrician at Apollo Speciality Hospitals, OMR
Have you ever felt a burning sensation while passing urine? Or have you ever had increased urge to urinate? If so you could be suffering from Urinary Tract Infection. Not urinating for nearly 3-4 hours, one would be at the risk of getting this disease. Adding more fuel to the burning issue, one with Vitamin D deficiency and diabetes should be more careful as all these issues could be life threatening. Dr Meera Ragavan, Consultant Obstetrician at Apollo Speciality Hospitals, OMR and The Chennai Speciality Klinic in an interview to THP team talks about the connection between Vitamin D deficiency and Urinary Tract infection.
Edited Excerpts:
What is the main cause of urinary Tract Infection and on a gender basis, who is vulnerable?
The main cause of urinary infection is the over growth of abnormal bacterial and fungal infection in the lower urinary tract right after the kidney. Someone who has taken steroids will also be at the higher risk of getting this disease.
On a gender basis, who is at the risk of getting this mostly?
It is more common in females because of the proximity of the tract to birth canal and period related hormonal changes, which reduces the resistance. Especially pre-pubertal girls, post-menopausal and pregnant women are more at the risk of getting urinary tract infection.
How many Indians are affected due to this?
It is not about the specific country. Anyone living in a tropical country will be at the higher risk of getting this infection. Reasons could be water loss due to sweating and severe summer. Lack of hygienic public toilets could also be a reason, but that is only in a miniscule level. There is a myth among people that using public toilets one would always get urinary infections. With that, many refuse to use public toilets and control until they reach home. But letting the urine stay for longer in your urinary tract will lead to fungal and bacterial formations.
What is the connection between Urinary Tract Infection and Vitamin D Deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency is known to have an impact on the body’s immunity. It is also associated with control of diabetes. Directly is not a risk factor, but influences other risk factors, which would be life threatening.
What would be the best source of Vitamin D to combat Urinary Tract Infection?
Sunlight is the best source. Working in sunlight for 30 minutes every day will be good for all. Working out for 30 minutes a day, one would get 400-600 IUs of Vitamin D. Otherwise to overcome deficiency; one would be taken Vitamin D3 capsules once in a week on a cycle of 8 weeks. These capsules give 60,000 IUs on a weekly basis thereby meeting the required numbers to overcome Vitamin D deficiency.
A leading edible oil manufacturer has launched a new product and claims it contains Vitamin D3. But so far, many have said Sunlight as the single best source of Vitamin D and apart from that sea fish has more Vitamin D. So what is your opinion on this issue?
Sunflower oil does contain Vitamin D3, but it is available at a very low level, which is not enough to combat deficiency. But it has Vitamin D content. To test your Vitamin D level visit https://vitamindguru.com/vitamin-d-level-test/
