The 4th International Conference on Vitamin D Deficiency to be held in Abu Dhabi

The two days International Conference that is patronized by His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Govt. of UAE and will be a unique forum to have recent updates in the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of vitamin D deficiency. Despite UAE being a year-long sunny country, more than 70% of its population is vitamin D deficient. To have a better understanding of vitamin D action, treatment and effectiveness, the top scientists and clinicians from various parts of the world, involved in vitamin D research, are about to gather in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The “4th International Conference on Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Clinical Implications” will be held at the Rosewood Hotel, Abu Dhabi on 19th – 20th March, 2015. This largest vitamin D conference in the Middle Eastern region, attracts experts from USA to Europe to Asian countries, and provides unique opportunity for the local health professionals and students to receive cutting-edge information on how to deal with widespread vitamin D deficiency, that affects 7 out of 10 healthy individuals.

The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is significantly high among population of UAE, Saudi Arabia and many other Middle Eastern countries, especially among women and teenagers, despite abundant sunshine. Several factors have been postulated for the low vitamin D levels among population around the globe including dietary habits, lack of sun exposure, traditional clothing , dark skin pigmentation, pregnancy, protracted lactation without vitamin D supplementation, very hot climate, restricted outdoor activities, obesity, and lack of government regulation for vitamin D fortification of food. It is a major public health concern and requires a robust health policy for vitamin D supplementation and implementation of dietary public health measures. It is clear that sufficient levels of vitamin D are essential for optimizing human health. However, many questions remain unanswered. For example, what levels of serum vitamin D are optimal? What amount of supplementation or sunlight exposure is needed to achieve and maintain these optimum levels? What is the role of atmospheric pollution (overhead sand clouds) in inhibiting the sun’s UVB rays reaching the ground? All these unanswered questions will be discussed in the upcoming conference on vitamin D.

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, President of the conference and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare is a strong supporter of Vitamin D Research in the UAE. Dr. Shamsheer has created an R & D at VPS Healthcare with an allocation of a million US dollar vitamin D research project headed by Dr. Afrozul Haq.

Dr. Haq, Chairman of this Conference and Principal Scientist at VPS Healthcare who pioneered the vtamin D testing and research in the UAE is instrumental in bringing the vitamin D deficiency awareness programme of UAE onto the international level in the form of research, awareness campaign and conducting conferences where leaders in the field of vitamin D research join from all over the world and share their views and expertise. The local organizers (Mena Conference) is tirelessly promoting this events to deliver maximum benefit to the local population, by not only inviting top notch vitamin D experts, but also including exhibition of various vitamin D state of the art testing machines  from Roche and other vitamin D supplemental products from various pharmaceutical companies along with the main conference. Join us in the vitamin D conference to make it a great success and yourself aware of what is best for your own health.