HOW IMPORTANT IS VITAMIN D?

Q AI am lacking vitamin D. Is there anything that you would suggest? Vitamin D helps to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which is important for bone, teeth and muscle health. It is made by our skin from sunlight and found in small amounts in some foods. It can be difficult to get enough vitamin D from food, so it’s recommended that everyoney in Scotland aged five or older should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement parrticularly during the winter moonths – October to March. Goood sources of vitamin D incclude: ■ Oily fish – such as almon, herring, mackerel ■ Red meat and offal – such as liver and kidney ■ Egg yolks ■ Fortified cereals, soya products and spreads Some population groups will not obtain enough vitamin D fromm sunlight even during the ssummermmer and are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency. This includes: ■ People who are seldom outdoors such as frail or housebound individuals and those who are confined indoors ■ People who habitually wear clothes that cover most of their skin while outdoors ■ People from minority ethnic groups with dark skin such as those of an African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin Search ‘vitamins’ on NHSinform.scot for more information.