Family screening is effective in picking up undiagnosed Asian vitamin D deficient subjects

Vitamin D deficiency has been described in the Asian migrants to the UK fro m the early 1960s. In spite of some suggestions that this problem is declin ing, we continue to see clinical cases of vitamin D deficiency with osteoma lacia presenting to hospital. As the aetiology of this condition is associated with social, cultural and dietary factors, we screened associated family members of 18 index cases (t hree males 15 females, age range 12-73 years) who presented with clinical v itamin D deficiency to hospital. Of the 36 (21 females, 15 males) screened, 67% of these had evidence of vitamin D deficiency as judged by a 25(OH)Vit D of < 5 <mu>g L-1 (5-40). Some subjects also had hypocalcaemia (n = 2), lo w PO4 (n = 7), raised PTH (n = 8) and raised alkaline phosphatase (n = 11), indicating severe symptomatic, but unrecognized, vitamin D deficiency. Fam ily screening seems an effective way of identifying Asian subjects with vit amin D deficiency who otherwise remain undiagnosed. A preventative policy w ith implementation is long overdue for this easily treatable condition.