Vitamin D: The facts

(Article courtesy of Nutri Advanced)

Vitamin D is a Super-Nutrient. 

Vitamin D is fast becoming known as a ‘super-nutrient’. No longer just an important nutrient for healthy bones, research is now finding that low vitamin D may be linked to a wide range of health problems, including some of the most common chronic conditions of modern times.

Selected vitamin D products:

Quick View Lamberts Vitamin D 400iu (120) £6.95 Add to Basket

Quick View Solgar Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) 55mcg (2200 iu) vegicaps £11.75  -  £20.25 Add to Basket

Quick View Viridian Organic Vitamin D2 400iu 60 Capsules £15.30 Add to Basket

Quick View Viridian Viridikid Vitamin D Drops 400iu 30ml £8.45 Add to Basket

See all Vitamin D products

What does vitamin D do?

Vitamin D contributes to numerous biological functions in the body, including:

• normal function of the immune system
• maintenance of normal muscle function
• cell division
• maintenance of normal bones
• normal utilisation of calcium and phosphorous

Where does Vitamin D come from?

What many people don’t realise is that very few foods naturally contain vitamin D. Wild, oily fish is by far the best dietary source, followed closely by fortified milk and egg yolks, but you certainly cannot rely on food to provide you with optimal amounts of vitamin D on a daily basis. In fact, the major source (80 – 100%) of vitamin D is actually the sun! Vitamin D is made in the body when bare skin comes into contact with the sun’s UVB rays.

Why are so many people low in vitamin D?

The simple answer is that we don’t get anywhere near as much sun as we used to. Our ancestors lived and worked outdoors, with lots of bare skin sun exposure, which helped to ensure continual replenishment of the body’s vitamin D stores. Nowadays, we work and play inside, our bodies are covered up, we travel in cars and live and work in cities where buildings block the sun. Liberal use of high factor sunscreen, whilst needed to protect against skin cancer, has an unfortunate downside, as it reduces vitamin D production in the skin. It’s easy to understand why low vitamin D is a significant global health problem. Severe cases of vitamin D deficiency continue to be reported and more worryingly, many may go unrecognised.

How do I know if I'm low in vitamin D?

Many private labs offer inexpensive vitamin D testing direct to the public, most of which simply require a blood spot sample you can easily do at home. Alternatively, your GP may offer a vitamin D test if you have specific concerns or are at higher risk. Results are usually presented in a range as per the table below. With vitamin D, it’s advisable to aim for higher ‘optimal’ levels rather than just the basic minimum needed to avoid deficiency. If you are unsure how much vitamin D3 to supplement with please speak to your healthcare practitioner.

Vitamin D Reference Ranges

What are the latest government Vitamin D guidelines

The latest advice from Public Health England is that:

• Adults and children over the age of 4 should consider taking a daily supplement containing 400 IU vitamin D, particularly during the autumn and winter months.
• People who are at higher risk of deficiency, including babies under 1, and all children aged 1 – 4 are advised to supplement all year round*.

Who is at higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency?

• Pregnant women, breastfed babies and all children under the age of five*
• Increasing age – Your body’s ability to make use of vitamin D falls by at least half between the ages of 20 – 80 years
• Limited time outside - Anyone frail or housebound, hospitalised or in a care home and spending minimal time outdoors
• Body fat levels – Both obesity (high body fat) and underweight (low body fat) put people at higher risk
• Skin tone – The paler your skin, the easier it is for you to make vitamin D. People with darker skin, including African & Asian populations, are therefore at higher risk
• Clothing – Those whose skin is always covered for religious, or any other reasons
• Where you live - The further away from the equator you live, the more challenging it is for your skin to make vitamin D
• Time of year - Vitamin D production in the skin drops significantly between Oct – March

Why government guidelines may be set too low...

The current daily recommendation for vitamin D is 400iu. However, if you consider that the skin will naturally produce around 10,000iu vitamin D in response to 20 – 30 minutes of summer sun exposure, you can easily see how 400iu may be considered too low by many health experts. There are varying opinions on vitamin D daily requirements and supplement dosage, and this can be confusing as some sources recommend much higher doses than others. Here’s our definitive guide to vitamin D supplements.

Nutri Advanced - Definitive guide to vitamin D supplements

Vitamin D supplements in babies and young children

Publish Health England 2016

*Exceptions are babies receiving 500ml or more fortified formula milk daily, or breastfed babies where mum is certain that her breast milk contains optimal daily amounts. Getting enough vitamin D via breast milk is a challenge however and for most breastfed babies, a daily supplement will be required.

Vitamin D supplements in children over the age of 4 & adults

The Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines

Which form of vitamin D should I take?

Vitamin D is best supplemented in the form of cholecalciferol (D3), as this is the form naturally made by the body in response to sunlight.

Why is vitamin K included in some vitamin D supplements?

Vitamins D and K work very closely together. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium from food and supplements, and rather like a chaperone, vitamin K helps to ensure this calcium is used in the bones. Changing eating habits mean that many people don’t get enough vitamin K2 from their diet. It is found naturally in high fat dairy products, liver and Japanese fermented foods such as natto. Vitamin D3 & K2 are often found together in supplements to support this dual role.

Nutri Advanced's Vitamin D Range

Nutri's comprehensive range makes sure that whatever your age, individual needs or personal taste, we’ve got the right vitamin D supplement for you:

• Only D3, the preferred form - We use only Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) the form of vitamin D produced naturally in response to sunlight.
• User-friendly options - For flexible supplementation our vitamin D is available in many forms including tablets, liquid (drops), and delicious lemon melts, which makes taking your daily vitamin D nice and easy across all ages.
• Up-to-date dosages - Dosage requirements can vary hugely, depending on age, risk factors and whether you’re looking for a daily maintenance dose or a short-term higher dose to correct deficiency. We have a comprehensive vitamin D range including a vegan liquid D3 formula providing a low maintenance dose of 400IU per drop, a 5000 IU tablet to easily correct deficiency, and everything in between!
• No fuss, low cost - While many supplements may contain additional nutrients, we know that vitamin D3 alone is a safe, effective way to supplement and keep the cost down.
• Maintain with a multivitamin - Our Multi Essentials range of multivitamins and minerals are perhaps the only multivitamins in the UK to provide 1000iu of vitamin D3 per tablet, making it easier to maintain a healthy daily intake of vitamin D.

Vitamin D Supplements Summary Table (Click on name to go there)

Please speak to your healthcare practitioner if you need help deciding which formula is best for you.