Page 92 - Delicious - UK (February 2020)
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BEHIND THE HEADLINES
Should we ALL
be taking vitamin D?
The bone-strengthening nutrient is made mainly in our skin when it’s exposed to sunlight.
But should we be taking supplements in the dark UK winter or can we get enough from our
food – and is vitamin D really a cure-all? Sue Quinn ups your knowledge intake
n the darker months between earth’s surface, so our vitamin D And some studies suggest older
October and March, there’s stores decline. This is a problem people, particularly women, need
Iinsufficient sunlight in the because very few foods contain more than 10mcg, as the ability to
UK for the human body to make vitamin D: oily fish, cod liver oil synthesise vitamin D diminishes
vitamin D. According to the 2018 and some fortified foods contain with age. “Some groups may need
National Diet and Nutrition Survey, good amounts, while small more than the recommended
around 17 per cent of British adults quantities are found in egg yolks, dosage, but this should be advised
have inadequate levels of vitamin liver and wild mushrooms. by a pharmacist or other suitably
D, which is why Public Health “It’s pretty unrealistic to get all qualified healthcare professional,”
England advises people to take our vitamin D from food, unless Thornton-Wood says.
vitamin D supplements for at least it’s fortified,” says Clare Thornton-
part of the year. Wood, registered dietitian and CONTESTED HEALTH CLAIMS
Doctors agree vitamin D helps spokesperson for the British Dietetic Vitamin D’s role in human health
maintain healthy bones, teeth and Association. “We are designed to get is complex, not completely
muscles, but beyond this, opinions it from sunlight.” But how much understood and hotly debated.
differ. Many doctors and dietitians vitamin D do our bodies need? Severe deficiency is known to cause
believe supplements are a good rickets (a condition that affects
idea because vitamin D needs are HOW MUCH IS ‘ENOUGH’? bone development in children) and
difficult to meet through diet alone In 2016, after reviewing the evidence osteomalacia (soft bones) in adults.
during the darker months. Others on vitamin D, the government issued Some research suggests a link
argue supplements are unnecessary new advice that adults and children between low levels of vitamin D
for healthy people and might in fact over the age of one should consider and certain health conditions.
be harmful for certain age groups. taking a daily 10mcg supplement A study published in The BMJ
To compound the confusion, during autumn and winter (mcg is in 2017 suggested a small benefit
vitamin D supplements are widely sometimes written as μg). Those at in taking vitamin D supplements
touted as a near-miracle cure for a a higher risk of deficiency (whose to reduce the risk of respiratory
range of conditions from multiple skin has little or no exposure to infections. In 2018 the VITAL
sclerosis and dementia to the sun or who have dark skin) are study of 25,000 adults in Boston,
cardiovascular disease and cancer. advised to take a supplement all Massachusetts, in the US found
So, what’s the truth? year round. It’s also advised that a potential link between taking
babies under one should take a daily supplements and a slightly reduced
WHAT IS VITAMIN D? 8.5-10mcg vitamin D supplement, risk of death from cancer (but not
Vitamin D is unlike any other except those fed infant formula, as the actual risk of getting cancer).
vitamin: we make it in our skin it’s already fortified. However, researchers stressed that ILLUSTRATIONS: GETTY IMAGES/FILO/KBEIS/CUTEOLGA
using the sun’s ultraviolet B rays Not all experts agree that 10mcg further trials were needed.
(UVB). During the autumn and is right for everyone, or that there’s Elsewhere, studies linking
winter in northern climes, including one ideal standard dose. In the US, vitamin D and conditions including
the UK, the angle of the sun is too for example, 10-20mcg per day is heart disease, cancer, multiple
low for enough UVB to reach the recommended, dependent on age. sclerosis, inflammatory bowel
