We have enough and more sunlight in India, then why do we lack in the one vitamin that sunlight provides — vitamin D? Is it because of our modern indoor lifestyle, or the rising pollution levels?

In this episode, host Anuja Jaiswal, a Senior Assistant Editor with TOI, has a candid chat with Dr Ravinder Goswami, AIIMS professor and a Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize-winning endocrinologist. Together, they unpack the ‘sunshine vitamin’ paradox: why vitamin D deficiency remains widespread in sunny India.

Dr Goswami breaks down the vital, interconnected roles that vitamin D and calcium play in maintaining a healthy skeletal system and supporting functional biology. The conversation highlights the mechanism behind natural UVB absorption through the skin, the limitations of food fortification, and why common modern lifestyles — like working long hours indoors behind glass windows — hinder natural vitamin D production.

Listeners will also gain crucial, practical insights into safe supplementation practices, navigating seasonal variations, and managing deficiency risks associated with aging, obesity, and specific medications.

Before you tune out, be sure to listen to the nutrition power tip by nutritionist Sangeetha Aiyer (https://www.rewriteyourstory.in/).

Chapters

01:01 - Skeletal and Functional Role of Vitamin D

01:51 - Natural Synthesis of Cholecalciferol in Skin

02:48 - Sunshine Requirements: UVB Rays and the Optimal Time of Day

03:37 - Sun Exposure Myths vs. Realities (The Surya Namaskar Distinction)

04:17 - Why Window Glass Blocks Vitamin D Synthesis

04:48 - Nature’s Safety Valve Against Vitamin D Toxicity

05:15 - Impact of Winter Weather and Urban Pollution

06:19 The Limitations of Dietary Sources (Fish, Eggs, and Mushrooms)

08:15 - Food Fortification Strategies in India

10:03 - High-Risk Groups: Medical Conditions and Drug Interactions

13:57 - Lessons from History: The AIIMS Groundbreaking Studies (1998)

19:13 - Supplementation Schedules and the Danger of Injectables

26:13 - Understanding Biological Feedback Loop (PTH & Hypercalcemia)