An NHS GP has claimed that all UK residents should be popping a vitamin D pill from October to March as it’s the one vitamin Britons can’t naturally obtain through diet or sunshine in the winter.
While chatting with Samuel Goldsmith on the Good Food podcast, Dr Chinta Patel touched upon the topic of supplements and our reliance on a balanced diet to provide necessary nutrients.
Nevertheless, she pointed out that in her view, vitamin D is an exception due to its scarcity in the UK from March to October. She detailed: “Supplements, it’s something I get asked about all the time.
“I think it’s difficult isn’t it, because you’ve so many supplements out there and so many celebrities endorsing different supplements and I think it’s important to just remember that actually you can get pretty much everything you need from a good varied balanced diet, apart from one in the UK and that’s vitamin D.
“Vitamin D’s really difficult to get because we just don’t have enough sunshine in this country and it’s actually a hormone rather than vitamin. During the winter months, October to March, in this country we recommend everybody takes a vitamin D supplement so everybody should be taking vitamin D whatever your age,” reports Surrey Live.
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for our bodies, playing a key role in regulating calcium and phosphate levels, according to the NHS.
They suggest that it’s possible to incorporate vitamin D into your diet without supplements, by eating foods such as salmon, red meat, egg yolks, liver, and fortified foods.
The NHS has advised on the use of vitamin D supplements during the colder months, stating: “Since it’s difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter.
“Between late March/early April to the end of September, most people can make all the vitamin D they need through sunlight on their skin and from a balanced diet.”
Experts say we should be able to get the vitamins we need from food without resorting to supplements (stock)
Read More
Related Articles
Read More
Related Articles
While a vitamin D supplement can help bolster the immune system and maintain overall health, health organisations like the NHS caution that excessive intake can be harmful.
They warn that an overabundance of vitamin D can lead to hypercalcaemia, a condition caused by too much calcium in the body, which can “weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and heart”.
Regarding the appropriate dosage, they advise: “If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people.
“Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years.”