This Morning: Dr Chris discusses vitamin D and Covid
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Vitamin D is a chemical used by the body to keep the bones, teeth and muscles strong and at full fitness.
It is also the chemical the human produces when exposed to sunlight.
Due to the low intensity of the sun during the months of September to April, it is recommended that these levels are maintained in supplement form.
A lack of vitamin D can cause a number of problems.
In children, it can cause bone deformities such as rickets and in adults a condition called osteomalacia that causes bone pain.
Those at highest risk of not getting enough vitamin D are:
• Children between the ages of 1 and 4
• All babies, unless they’re consuming more than 500ml of infant formula per day
• Those whose skin is rarely exposed to sunlight
Just as with pretty much anything else in life, too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing.
Vitamin D is no different.
Although it is impossible to overdose from Vitamin D from the sun, in supplement form it is.
The maximum amount of vitamin D that should be consumed per day is 4,000IU or 100 micrograms.
Overdosing on vitamin D can lead to the very result that taking vitamin D is meant to prevent, weakened bones.
Damage to the kidneys and heart are also a strong possibility if one is consistently taking too much vitamin D.
This is why it is safer to raise vitamin D levels through dietary changes.
A plethora of foods rich or strong in vitamin D are sitting on the shelves of supermarkets waiting to be at service both in terms of flavour and vitamins.
Oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks and fortified foods are the main food-based sources of vitamin D on the shelves of local shops.
The list of oily fish stated by the NHS includes:
• Salmon
• Sardines
• Herring
• Mackerel
For more information on vitamin D and guidance on dosages, see the NHS website or consult your GP or a pharmacist.
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