SHOULD WE TAKE A VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENT?
Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, plays a vital role in numerous bodily processes including immune function, mood regulation, energy production and bone health.
Our skin synthesises vitamin D when exposed to direct sunlight and 10-20 minutes of direct sun exposure on suncream free skin (roughly April to early October) is enough to get your recommended daily intake (RDI). Living in the UK can make this difficult especially with the addition of lockdown this year. The sun isn’t strong enough during the winter months to synthesise enough vitamin D and consequently, vitamin D deficiency affects a large proportion of the population. Vitamin D can also be found in some food sources (fatty fish, egg yolks, mushrooms, dairy and meat) although isn’t readily available and can be challenging for those following veggie/vegan diets.
Public Health England have advised those living in the UK to take a low dose supplement of 10 micrograms daily in the autumn and winter months. There are numerous vitamin D3 supplements available and it can be confusing knowing which one to go for. If you’re concerned about your vitamin D intake, please do consult a health professional before taking a supplement.
