(Islamic) Hijabs A Source Of Illness, Doctors Say

The Muslim Weekly ^ | 20 - 26 JUL 2007 | The Muslim Weekly

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Hijabs a source of illness, doctors say

Doctors have claimed that Muslim women wearing the hijab could be at risk of serious illness because they do not get enough sun.

It has been claimed that women who cover their skin are could be suffering bone deficiencies over a lack of vitamin D.

Most of the body’s vitamin D - which prevents rickets - is obtained through sunlight acting on the skin. Only a little comes from food.

Doctors told a London conference on Wednesday that people with dark pigment oare at risk because of "cultural reasons" and because they are less efficient at producing the vitamin.

The bone disorder rickets has now broken out in young Muslim children as babies are not getting enough calcium from mothers’ breast milk.

The National Health Service is launching a campaign aimed at Muslim women, particularly Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Somalis, to encourage them to increase their vitamin D intake.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "For ethnic groups there is an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency as people with dark and pigmented skin are less efficient at making vitamin D in their skin.

"They need to spend longer outside to make similar amounts and those who wear concealing clothing are unlikely to make enough.

"Studies have shown low vitamin D levels in Asian women in the UK - particularly among those who cover most of their skin for cultural reasons."

The problem first came to light in Bradford, which has one of the highest Muslim populations in Britain.

The Government is calling on community leaders to warn Muslims they need more sunlight and better diets. Pregnant women are also advised to take vitamin D supplements and folic acid.

A spokeswoman said: "People may be at risk if they are South Asian, African or African-Caribbean and have low exposure to sunlight, for example if they observe Hijab or do not spend much time outside."

She said a poor diet or restricted diet such as veganism, also posed dangers. "Breastfeeding is recommended for all babies, however a baby may be at risk if breast-fed and the mother has a low vitamin D level herself."

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