There has been a lot of talk in the media about Vitamin D in recent years, so you would think we know everything there is to know about the ‘sunshine vitamin’. Apparently not. Recent research has shown that 47% who don’t purchase multivitamins assume that natural sources such as sunlight can provide all the vitamin D they need. Experts say that’s almost impossible for many people living in the UK.
Table Of Contents
What is vitamin D for anyway?
Vitamin D helps the human body to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate, which are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Vitamin D also supports the normal function of the immune system in children and adults.
Exposing bare skin to the UVB rays in sunlight is the most natural way to get vitamin D. However, you need to have your face and upper extremities exposed between
Yikes, my family is not getting enough Vitamin D, how do I fix this?
The good news is that conditions caused by lack of vitamin D such as bone problems, immune deficiencies, sleep problems depression and rickets, can all be avoided with a simple
Not all supplements are created equal
So which supplements should you choose? Opting for a
Formulated specifically to meet the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s (SACN) and Public Health England’s (PHE) new recommended vitamin D guidelines is Fultium Daily D3. Fultium Daily D3 is a new, high quality, pharmaceutical grade supplement.
Fultium Daily D3 is free from artificial preservatives and sweeteners. The capsule gelatine is both Halal and Kosher certified and the drops are suitable for vegetarians.
The Full Story From The Experts – The A-Z of Vitamin D
Absorption
Calcium absorption in the body is promoted by vitamin D, which enables normal bone production, strength and repair.
Bone health
Research has shown that a consistently low level of Vitamin D means that some people will be predisposed to bone fractures.
Colour of your skin
The colour of your skin can make a big difference when it comes to how easily you can absorb vitamin D from sunlight. If you have pale skin you will make vitamin D more quickly than if you had darker skin. Often those with paler skin may avoid the sun for fear of burning, so may also be low in vitamin D.
Melanin is the substance that affects how light or dark your skin is. The more melanin you have, the darker your skin colour will be. The amount of vitamin D that you can produce is determined by the level of melanin you have in your skin.
Dose
New guidelines say that everyone over
Exposure to sunlight
Experts say that people in the UK, aged 1 and over requires 10 micrograms (μg) of vitamin D a day with 8.5-10 micrograms a day for infants under 1 year. This is particularly important during the winter months.
Food
You can get small amounts of vitamin D from food including oily fish, red meat, egg yolks, fortified drinks, cereals and milk. However, you would need to eat one of the following servings every day to get enough vitamin D from your diet alone.
- 1 Portion of oily fish (however, the NHS says you should only eat 2 a week depending on your lifestyle)
- 6 Boiled eggs
- 10+ Tins of tuna
- 7+ Bowls of cereal fortified in vitamin D
- 10 Rump steaks
- 10+ Lamb’s liver
- 13+ Lumps of reduced fat spread
GP diagnosis
Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency can present with no symptoms at all, though generalised muscle aches and low mood have been reported. Diagnosis is made through a blood test at your GP surgery.
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Immunity
Vitamin D plays a key role in the immune system, according to a growing amount of evidence.
Knowledge
Did you know that barely more than
Lack of outdoor space
A reduction in children spending time outdoors, largely due to a lack of outdoor space, can also be a contributing factor to the increase of vitamin D deficiency in this country.
Medical conditions related to vitamin D deficiency
Depression, breast and colorectal cancer have all been linked to low levels of vitamin D. There is also an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease according to research[ii].
Normal levels of vitamin D
A serum 25 (OH) D level above 50 nmol/L is considered sufficient.
Office workers
Offices in urban areas provide very little natural sunlight exposure, and may contribute to insufficient vitamin D levels
Pollution
If you live somewhere where there is lots of pollution, your skin makes less vitamin D because p
Quality
Make sure that you check with your pharmacist to ensure that the quality of your vitamin D supplement is
Rickets caused by a lack of Vitamin D
There is a growing rate of rickets in children due to vitamin D deficiency. Rickets is a condition where minerals aren’t laid down in bony tissue and bones become soft and deformed. Rickets was a common occurrence in the past but mostly disappeared during the early 20th century after certain foods like margarine and cereal were fortified with vitamin D. Sadly, in recent years cases of rickets are on the rise once more.
Sunscreen
As important as it is to apply sunscreen to protect our family’s skin from the harmful rays from the sun, unfortunately
Tablet vs oil Vitamin D supplements
Fultium Daily D3 is one of the few vitamin D tablet supplements specially formulated in a high-quality oil, which, unlike dry powdered tablets, is easily and effectively absorbed by the body. I’m happy to be working with the manufacturers of Fultium Daily D3 to raise awareness of vitamin D deficiency
UVB
It is only ultraviolet B rays which are responsible for synthesising vitamin D in the body.
Vitamin D supplements
There is a variety of vitamin D supplements available online and in health stores. Your pharmacist can advise on which are made to the same high standard as prescribed versions
Weakened immune system
Research says that that vitamin D deficiency weakens the immune system leading to other diseases such as respiratory infections.
X-ray
Wrist X-rays are sometimes required to investigate suspected cases of rickets or osteomalacia in children with
You
The truth is, only you can control the vitamin D levels you get throughout the year. Unless you and
Zzzzzzzz
Lack of vitamin D is associated with sleep problems, particularly with daytime sleepiness.
Fultium Daily D3 is available in pharmacies only, in packs of 30s (RRP £3.99), 60s (RRP £7.49), 90s (RRP £10.99) and as 15ml drops (RRP £7.99).
Fultium Daily D3 is free from artificial preservatives and sweeteners. The capsule gelatine is both Halal and Kosher certified and the drops are suitable for vegetarians.
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