Category: Nutrition | Posted: 05-12-10 | No Comments »
I normally don’t post about things like vitamins, but I was shown this article and thought it was interesting. So here is a guest post from Philip Youngwood about Vitamin D deficiencies. This is especially relevant with the summer months coming. Hopefully this gives you more reason to get some sun:
An EU hearing organised by the Standing Committee of European Doctors and the PA International Foundation heard this March that there is a ‘huge’ shortfall between the recommended and actual intake of Vitamin D (1).
Speaking at the hearing, Kevin Cashman from University College Cork in Ireland said: “Vitamin D deficiency is a huge public health issue and it is estimated that 50-75 per cent of the adult population do not take enough vitamin D,” he said.
“We need to target the at-risk population and take a serious step forward to eradicate vitamin D deficiency.
“This is preventable but it needs an effective and efficient strategy to make it happen.”
Currently, adults are advised to intake 10 micrograms of Vitamin D per day, with the amount rising to 10-15 micrograms for elderly people. The average amount is far lower, however, at just 3-4 micrograms per day (2).
Most of the Vitamin D we need comes from the rays of the sun (3), however skin must be bare and the sunlight direct. This means that people who are not exposed to daylight, who stay indoors or who regularly cover up their skin whilst outdoors are at particular risk of a deficiency. A Vitamin D deficiency can cause a number of conditions including muscle pain or weakness, bone pain, and soft bones in severe deficiencies (4).
Aside from sunlight, Vitamin D is also present in some foods. These include fish and eggs, as well as fortified foods such as margarine and cereals. Vitamin D capsules can also be taken to supplement intake, and are recommended to groups who are at risk of deficiencies, such as pregnant women (5).
References
Parliament.co.uk (24th March, 2010). EU urged to help tackle Vitamin D deficiency. http://www.theparliament.com/no_cache/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/eu-urged-to-help-tackle-vitamin-d-deficiency/
Parliament.co.uk (24th March, 2010). EU urged to help tackle Vitamin D deficiency. http://www.theparliament.com/no_cache/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/eu-urged-to-help-tackle-vitamin-d-deficiency/
(1)NHS (17th March, 2010). Vitamin D supplements and flu. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/03March/Pages/Vitamin-D-supplements-and-flu.aspx
(2)Patient.co.uk (25th February, 2008).Vitamin D deficiency. http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Vitamin-D-Deficiency.htm
(3)Food Standards Agency (2010). Vitamin D. http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/vitaminsandminerals/vitamind
About the Guest Author
Philip Youngwood writes professionally on a number of health topics relating to vitamin supplementation, particularly those featured in the news. Most recently this includes Vitamin D and its importance to the health of the body.
