C) Effects on intestinal calcium absorption Effect of VDD on intestinal calcium absorption in Asian Indians with chronic hypovitaminosis D and its change after cholecalciferol supplementation was studied recently at our Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Study subjects were 29 apparently healthy volunteers [17 M, 12 F, mean (SD) age = 28.4 ± 6.4 year] with low serum 25(OH)D levels [mean (SD) = 7.6 ± 4.8 ng/ml]. Intestinal calcium absorption was assessed by 'calcium load test' (PAK test) (10) using 1 gm of oral elemental calcium load before and after (n = 26) supplementation with oral cholecalciferol (60,000 IU/week for eight weeks). This study showed that the vitamin D Deficiency is physiologically relevant in terms of intestinal calcium absorption in Asian Indians.