When to stop taking your daily vitamin D supplement this spring - and who should take it all year round
Around one in six adults in the UK has low levels of vitamin D ☀
- Spring is around the corner, and with that, hopefully a spell of sunshine.
- Around one in six adults in the UK has low levels of vitamin D.
- Low levels of vitamin D can lead to rickets, bone pain and muscle weakness.
Springtime is almost here, with hopefully a spell of sunshine on the horizon after all that rain this winter. For some of us, this will mean we no longer need to take a common daily supplement that helps protect us against deficiency.
Around one in six adults and almost 20% of children in the UK have low levels of vitamin D, which can lead to health complications from rickets to bone pain and muscle weakness in adults.
The easiest way to get vitamin D is through sunshine; however, some people will need to take a vitamin D supplement year-round. Here is everything you need to know about when to stop if you’re taking one and who should continue.
What is vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient that helps keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy by regulating the body's levels of calcium and phosphate. It is made by the body when exposed to direct sunlight on the skin, or levels can be increased by the foods in our diet, such as oily fish, red meat, egg yolks or fortified foods.
How much vitamin D do we need every day?
The body makes vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outside. From late March or early April to the end of September, most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. But during the colder and darker months between October and early March, there is not enough sunlight for our bodies to make the levels we need.
When should you take vitamin D supplements?
During autumn and winter, our bodies do not make enough vitamin D from the sun as it isn’t strong enough. Since it's difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) is advised to take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter.
Most people will be able to make all the vitamin D they need through sunlight and a balanced diet from late March or early April to the end of September and will not need to take a vitamin D supplement.
However, some people will not make enough vitamin D from sunshine even during the spring and summer months.
The NHS recommend that those who are at high risk of not getting enough vitamin D take a daily supplement throughout the year. This includes adults and children over four who are not often outdoors, are in an institution like a care home or usually wear clothes that cover up most of their skin when outdoors.
With spring on the horizon, you can find out more about how to make sure you are getting enough vitamin D at NHS.UK.