VITAMIN D
VITAMIN D HAS BEEN HITTING THE HEADLINES LATELY - AND WITH GOOD REASON! HERE’S WHY THE ‘SUNSHINE VITAMIN’ IS MAKING ITS MARK ON SCOTTISH PATIENTS….
THE ‘SUNSHINE VITAMIN’ D
efi ciency in Vitamin D in the United Kingdom is widespread – primarily due to the chronic
lack of sunlight.
Unfortunately, only a small amount of vitamin D can be obtained from our diet - particularly from foods such as oily fi sh, eggs and fortifi ed cereals. As a result, there is little choice but to take vitamin D supplements. It’s estimated that the average dietary intake from foods (in the UK) is around 126iu per day, which - for most people - is entirely inadequate to optimise good health.
Instead, the best source of vitamin D is the sun’s rays. Unfortunately, the particular wavelength required to produce vitamin D from the sun is only available for three or four months in the summer - barring rain and cloud. Also, the skin needs to be exposed at the hottest time of the day for about fi fteen minutes.
While the climate in the UK is inadequate for the production of reasonable levels of vitamin D, the situation in Scotland is deemed to be particularly bad, since it’s estimated that Scotland receives 30-50 per cent less ultraviolet radiation (UVB) from the sun than the rest of the UK due to its high latitude and persistent low cloud cover.
12 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST
In fact, Glasgow, which is renowned for its cloudy climate, actually receives a similar amount of UVB as Kiruna in Northern Sweden, which is above the Arctic Circle!
Scottish patients are not alone in vitamin D defi ciency, however. In fact, a clinical review published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association earlier this year found that almost one billion individuals worldwide may have insuffi cient or defi cient levels of vitamin D.
But why is vitamin D considered to be so important for our health?
Well, multiple studies have suggested a connection between low vitamin D levels and increased incidence and death from cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, multiple sclerosis, diabetes etc. Indeed, vitamin D defi ciency is believed by experts to account for the very poor state of health in Scotland rather than smoking, alcoholism, poverty and poor diet that had previously been offered as an explanation.
So, what can vitamin D do to help?
Well, after absorption, vitamin D is transported to the liver where it’s stored in the form of calcidiol for future use. This calcidiol is dispersed all over the body, where different tissues
convert it to vitamin D (calcitriol), which, when activated, works in two main ways: calcium homoeostasis (the management of calcium levels in the blood, bones and digestive system) and regulating cell communication (which also impacts genetic expression and cell growth).
Recent research has, however, shown that vitamin D has many more health benefi ts, such as:
Immunity enhancement: A meta- analysis published in the British Medical Journal concluded that vitamin D supplementation was not only safe, but could also help to protect against respiratory tract infections.
Reduction in cardiovascular risk: Vitamin D has been linked to the reduction of cardiovascular events by reducing the prevalence of co-morbid diseases, such as diabetes and blood pressure, reducing infl ammation of the cardiovascular system and reducing the risk of arterial calcifi cation (a hardening of the arteries).
Reduction in fall risk and bone fractures: Vitamin D supports muscle function and so consequently has a role to play in reducing the risk of falls in individuals, particularly the elderly. Research has shown, however, that
doses of at least 700iu-1000iu are required, since lower doses have been shown to be ineffective.
Reduction in sleep and pain problems: A recent review study, which was published in the Journal of Endocrinology – ‘The interfaces between vitamin D, sleep and pain’ - demonstrated that low vitamin D levels were associated with both elevated pain and irregular sleep patterns. The study authors concluded that vitamin D supplementation had an important role to play in the therapeutic improvement of sleep, and in the prevention and treatment of chronic pain conditions.
What is the recommended dose of vitamin D?
This is a tricky question to answer since the dosage is very much dependent on an individual’s existing vitamin D level and personal requirements. The government recommendation is that all individuals should consider taking at least 10μg/400iu in autumn and winter months per day, which should be considered enough to prevent defi ciency in most people. Many studies, however, suggest that patients may benefi t from larger doses. •
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