All about Vitamin D

 

    • What is Vitamin D

      Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are essential to keep our immune system, bone and phosphate in the body.

      A lack of Vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.

    • Vitamin D and Sunlight

      In Europe, from about late March to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the Vitamin D that they need from sunlight.

      The body creates Vitamin from direct sunlight on the skin, when outdoors.

      But between October to early March, we do not get enough Vitamin D from sunlight alone.

    • Good Source of Vitamin D

      Vitamin D is also found in a small number of foods. Sources include:

      • Oily fish
      • Red meat and Liver.
      • Egg Yolks
      • Formula Milk
      • Fortified Foods - such as some spreads and breakfast cereals

    Signs and Symptoms of Low Vitamin D

    Tiredness, bone and back pain, muscle spasms and weakness, frequent infections, poor sleep pattern, pins and needles in hands or feet, hair loss, sensitivity to pain, or irritability and mood changes could indicate you are low in Vitamin D.

    Who needs Vitamin D?

    • Adults

      Vitamin D is important in almost every area of health.

      • Supports healthy immunity.
      • Skeletal health.
      • General health and wellbeing.

      Shift workers who have limited exposure should consider supplementing with at least 400 IU of Vitamin D daily, all year round.

    • Children

      Vitamin D is still important for strong healthy bones. Research suggests it is also important for:

      • Bone health
      • Muscle function
      • Healthy teeth and gums
      • Strong immune system

      Children should supplement with 400 IU of Vitamin D daily, All Year round.

    • Infants

      Not getting enough Vitamin D means that an infants bones can become soft, are more likely to break, and the infant is more likely to develop rickets. Vitamin D is important for:

      • Strong, healthy bones.
      • Immune development.

      Breastfed infants should supplement with 300 - 400 IU of Vitamin D Daily (3-4 Drops of Pro D3 Liquid Drops), all year round.

    • Ethnicity

      Extra vitamin D is recommended all year round for anyone who covers their skin for cultural skin or individuals who have darker skin including:

      • African
      • African-Caribbean
      • South Asian

      EFSA recommend that adults can safely take up to 4000 IU of Vitamin D daily, all year round.

    • Pregnancy

      Mothers need enough Vitamin D for both themselves and their developing or recently born infants for:

      • Uncomplicated pregnancy
      • Healthier, full term baby
      • Developed immune system

    • Elderly and Housebound

      Taking Vitamin D as you get older is important, as it is harder to get outside and make Vitamin D from the sun and the elderly may find it harder to absorb Vitamin D from their diet. It is essential for:

      • Maintaining balance.
      • Reducing the likelihood of falling.
      • Decreasing risk of fracture.
      • Maintain cognitive function.
    1 6