Vitamin D: an essential during these times

Now, more than ever, is the time to seriously consider the amount of Vitamin D you're getting and why it's so important.

According to the NHS, Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body.

These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.

Why is it so important during the pandemic?

It's important to take vitamin D as you may have been indoors more than usual this year.

You should take 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D a day between October and early March to keep your bones and muscles healthy.

There have been some reports about vitamin D reducing the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19). But there is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D to prevent or treat coronavirus.

Find out more here

From about late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight.

The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors.

But between October and early March we do not get enough vitamin D from sunlight.

Vitamin D is also found in a small number of foods.

Sources include:

oily fish
red meat
egg yolks
fortified foods – such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals

Another source of vitamin D is dietary supplements.