GET THE D BRIEF

Vitamin D supplements could be useful even in summer

WE KNOW VITAMIN D is essential for building the strong bones we need to run at our best. In the (generally) sun-starved UK, the majority of us would do well to supplement our vitamin D levels in the winter months. But what about during the summer? Given that vitamin D can also help boost our immune system, some experts are recommending we continue to supplement during the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Most of our vitamin D is produced by our skin when it’s exposed to sunlight,’ says RW nutritionist Kim Pearson. ‘During the autumn and winter months, we are typically exposed to less sun and, therefore, our opportunity to make vitamin D is reduced. The same goes for when we spend a lot of time indoors – our sun exposure is reduced and, with it, our vitamin D production.’

But before you lose all perspective and start mainlining the stuff, a word of caution: it is, it seems, possible to have too much. According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2019, consuming more than the recommended amount of vitamin D – 600 IU (international units) per day – could actually decrease your bone density. Moderation in all things…