More Indian women are wanted for a research into whether certain ethnic groups are more prone to bone disease through lack of sun.
Massey University researcher Pamela von Hurst is seeking Auckland-based Indian, Korean and Chinese women aged 20-29 for the study to identify whether some ethnic groups are more at risk of the disease.
A Massey researcher examining vitamin D deficiency across different ethnicities is calling for young Asian women to take part in a study.
The university’s Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health researcher Pamela von Hurst said the aim was to identify whether some ethnic groups were vitamin D deficient through lack of sun and therefore at higher risk of developing bone disease.
"Previous studies suggest many people are failing to achieve good vitamin D levels and this potentially affects their long term health," Ms Von Hurst said.
"Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in age-related muscle loss, cancer, heart disease, auto-immune conditions and type 2 diabetes. In New Zealand, the prevalence of some of these diseases in South Asians is considerably higher than that of the general population."
Ms von Hurst said the research was sparked by a more general study of South Asian women, which showed high rates of vitamin D deficiency and low bone mineral density in the women.
For the study, 150 European, Indian, Korean and Chinese women aged 20-29 would have their nutritional status tested.
Ms von Hurst said enough European women have come forward, but more Auckland-based Indian, Korean and Chinese women were needed for the study.
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