Keep Topping Up On Vitamin D

How to avoid being part of the one in five* UK adults who are deficient

- Dr Philippa Kaye On

As humans, we are complex animals. We need protein, carbohydrates and fats, as well as a multitude of vitamins and minerals in order to function. Luckily, we get most of these nutrients and micronutrients from what we eat. Yet while you can obtain a small amount of vitamin D from food, it’s mostly made in your skin, by exposure to the light of the sun. It’s essential for musculoskeletal health but, the trouble is, the UK is often not very sunny. So, as the summer draws to a close, remember to start taking a vitamin D supplement.

Not sure if you have a vitamin D deficiency? It’s possible to be deficient without noticing any symptoms. Or you may have generalised aches and pains, as well as fatigue, feeling tired all the time, or generally unwell. If the vitamin D deficiency continues or worsens, other symptoms can occur. For example, in children, it can lead to rickets, where the bones become soft, leading to bow legs and poor growth, late teething and the child may be prone to infections.

In adults, if the vitamin D deficiency becomes more severe, the pain may worsen and there may be muscle weakness. This can exacerbate and you could experience difficulty getting up from a chair, walking,or climbing the stairs. In severe cases, called osteomalacia, bone pain and fractures can develop.