Ita Ossowska

About Ita’s Research:

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a condition of a complex aetiology known to have significant consequences for short- and long-term health, including immune status. Due to geographical location and socioculturally mediated sun-deprivation, its severe manifestations, such as bone deformities, were especially prevalent in burgeoning urban centres of 18th-19th centuries Britain and consequently became known as the “English disease.” However, despite knowledge of increasing susceptibility to VDD in northern latitudes (i.e. >45°N), and the impact of mild and moderate VDD on health-related quality of life, investigations of this condition in past Scottish populations remain a notable research gap. Addressing this issue is important as it will allow one to investigate whether temporal changes in VDD prevalence are evident between different historical periods, and discern potential health disparities associated with age and sex across the Scottish Mediaeval/Early Post-Mediaeval populations. This will ultimately improve understanding of the lifestyle factors influencing population health in these populations as well as VDD more generally. Therefore, the aim of this project is to assess the prevalence and “hidden” effects of VDD in Mediaeval/Early Post-Mediaeval Scotland. Methods will include macroscopic assessment of skeletal changes associated with VDD, and co-occurrence with other indicators of health and disease, in non-adults (those <17 years of age) and adults (those 18+ years of age). This will be coupled with assessment of interglobular dentine (IGD) via microscopic and micro-CT analyses to detect VDD episodes experienced during growth and development.