17/02/2022
We know from living in the UK that once the holiday season has passed, the bitter cold and miserable weather can make us desperately look forward to Summer. However, a subconscious reason we are happier when the sun is shining may be because we’re getting our essential supply of Vitamin D.
Here’s 4 questions surrounding Vitamin D Deficiency and the answers that’ll help you see the bigger picture.
1. How Common is Vitamin D Deficiency?
The NHS estimate that 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 6 children in the UK don’t have enough Vitamin D. Although deficiency is common, the British Nutrition Foundation state that nearly 50% of British adults are not aware of the governments recommendation to take supplements in the Autumn and Winter months.
Our recommended dietary allowance is 10-20 mcg (micrograms) or 800 IU (International Units) per day however for those who don’t get enough sunlight, you can safely consume 25 mcg daily. To put that into perspective that’s:
- 100 grams of fresh salmon
- 2 teaspoons of cod liver oil supplements
- Approximately 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure
2. What is the Impact of Vitamin D Deficiency on Wellbeing?
Ensuring you have enough Vitamin D is essential for many aspects of your health:
- Vital for the development of healthy bones and teeth
- Improves muscle strength
- Fights infection and protects against certain cancers
- Keeps energy levels high
Vitamin D deficiency not only reduces the effectiveness of these functions but if untreated can lead to:
- Fatigue, aches, and overall sense of feeling unwell
- Osteromalacia – severe pain in muscles and joints making climbing stairs or even getting up from a low chair difficult.
- Painful bones to moderate pressure – commonly the lower back hips, pelvis, thighs, and feet
- Children may experience late teething/tooth decay, poor growth, rickets and are further prone to illness.
3. What foods are high in Vitamin D?
The most obvious source is sunlight but from October to March in the UK where the sun rarely shines, how do we keep our levels up?
Dietary sources of Vitamin D include:
- Oily Fish – salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel
- Red meat
- Liver
- Egg Yolks
- Fortified Foods i.e., fatty spreads or breakfast cereals
If you are living a vegan lifestyle, supplements are also available at any pharmacy containing a daily dose of 10 micrograms.
4. How can I tell if I am deficient in Vitamin D?
Vitamin D Deficiency can be identified with a simple blood test.
At Randox Health we aim to give you the ability to take control of your health through our comprehensive health checks. Our Vitamin D Home Test kits is a quick simple way to identify if you are deficient in this essential vitamin all from the comfort of your own home.
Simply collect your sample at home and send to us using the prepaid envelope provided with the kit . After just a few days you’ll receive a comprehensive report detailing your vitamin D levels.