Vitamin D supplements 'advised for everyone'

[Northerner]

Everyone should consider taking vitamin D supplements in autumn and winter, public health advice in England and Wales says.

It comes as a government commissioned report sets the recommended levels at 10 micrograms of the vitamin a day.

But officials are concerned this may not be achievable through diet alone, particularly when sunlight, which helps in vitamin D production, is scarce.

Low vitamin D levels can lead to brittle bones and rickets in children.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36846894

Everyone? 😱 Actually, a friend of mine developed a fracture in her femur which was determined to be due to Vit D deficiency - she was in her late 40s when it happened. I doubt very much that it had anything to do with my femur breaking though, although I never got any explanation for it happening.

 

[Copepod]

I'm concentrating on exposing as much skin to as much sun as possible, while avoiding getting burned, this summer, as always to build up my vitamin D stores to see me through the winter. Perhaps if I had dark skin, I would consider taking oral vitamin D supplements through the winter.

 

[Vicsetter]

If you decide to take Vitamin D capsules/pills, make sure you choose Vitamin D3 and not Vitamin D2 (which is bad for you). It is interesting that vitamin D treatment is cheap as chips because it cannot be patented so the drug companies make very little money from it.

 

[Amigo]

Due to my other serious condition, it's necessary to keep my Vit D at optimum as opposed to average levels. Presently I'm deficient and studies show earlier mortality in people with leukaemia who are deficient. There is also a connection between low Vit D levels and retinopathy.

I'm having to take VitD supplements twice a week of 20,000 iu's from my GP in the hope of getting me to a maintenance level but it's important to have that monitored with blood tests.

 

[Diabeticliberty]

I used to gorge on vitamin supplements as part of an extremely heavy training ground routine lifting weights 6 days per week. We took these blindly oblivious of the overdosing possibilities. Some of us took the time to read up on what we were taking and backed right off them. It seems you can overdose on vitamin D but it takes quite high doses to do so. The downside is that as it is fat soluble it can take an extended period of time for your body to get rid of if you do in fact take too much. I suppose as with everything else moderate doses are the key

 

[Amigo]

I used to gorge on vitamin supplements as part of an extremely heavy training ground routine lifting weights 6 days per week. We took these blindly oblivious of the overdosing possibilities. Some of us took the time to read up on what we were taking and backed right off them. It seems you can overdose on vitamin D but it takes quite high doses to do so. The downside is that as it is fat soluble it can take an extended period of time for your body to get rid of if you do in fact take too much. I suppose as with everything else moderate doses are the key

I think you're right DL but mine has been done for medical reasons and calculated based on blood tests to calculate amounts needed to raise and sustain it. The problem with vitamin deficiencies is they are badly misunderstood and I had a struggle to get this addressed.

 

[Diabeticliberty]

I think you're right DL but mine has been done for medical reasons and calculated based on blood tests to calculate amounts needed to raise and sustain it. The problem with vitamin deficiencies is they are badly misunderstood and I had a struggle to get this addressed.

Sorry, I really was not referring to your own situation. I think that taking vitamin supplements for medical conditions is very much different taking general supplements without medical direction or advice

 

[Amigo]

Sorry, I really was not referring to your own situation. I think that taking vitamin supplements for medical conditions is very much different taking general supplements without medical direction or advice

Yes I absolutely agree DL and at one time there was almost a fashionable trend towards popping vitamins with little idea of toxicity or interactions.

 

[Ljc]

I used to take a multi vit and mineral suppliment. I can now only take them if they are prescribed. I am on Alfacalcidol as I have Osteopenia.

 

[HOBIE]

Weather is so nice at mo !😉

 

[trophywench]

Yeah - but no actual sunshine here today - and a few days a year especially when it isn't always possible to expose as much of your upper body including shoulders to the sun for more than a few days - cos you are trapped inside working etc - just isn't enough.

 

[Copepod]

Actually, for pale skinned people living in UK latitudes, exposing face and hands to sun for 30 minutes a day goes a long way to maintaining vitamin D stores. So, if your walk / cycle to / from work is at least 15 minutes, you're doing OK. If you can manage a bit longer, while not getting burned, so much the better. So, I reckon my 60 minutes on bike when I can commute that way in summer (depends on emplyer and location) means I'm getting more than my minumum dose, even wearing fingerless gloves. Fortunately, this weekend I'm doing my outdoor job, so can wear shorts and polo shirt.

 

[trophywench]

Copepod - I'm a naturist - we used to regularly spend as much time as possible outdoors and completely nekkid - Friday evening to Sunday evening for 8 months of the year and longer than that on Bank Holidays and annual holidays.

Despite this - I am Vit D deficient and have osteopenia - I am what my beloved mother used to call 'sallow skinned' and never lose all my skin colour even in the Bleak Midwinter - I have never been and can never be, what 'us lot' call 'milk bottles'. Now being retired and not regular Club members we only spend 2-3 months solid of the year in Mediterranean sun - plus the walking, gardening, pegging out washing etc we've always done anyway - it's worse!

LOL

 

[HOBIE]

Actually, for pale skinned people living in UK latitudes, exposing face and hands to sun for 30 minutes a day goes a long way to maintaining vitamin D stores. So, if your walk / cycle to / from work is at least 15 minutes, you're doing OK. If you can manage a bit longer, while not getting burned, so much the better. So, I reckon my 60 minutes on bike when I can commute that way in summer (depends on emplyer and location) means I'm getting more than my minumum dose, even wearing fingerless gloves. Fortunately, this weekend I'm doing my outdoor job, so can wear shorts and polo shirt.

Makes sense to me Copepod, Keeping fit & burning some energy 🙂

 

[Copepod]

I know Trophywench has vitamin D problems, despite being a naturist. The majority of people who have normal vitamin D absorption pathways can absorb enough during summer months, provided they spend time outdoors, avoiding getting burned. This weekend I'm camping, which means getting sunshine on way even between tent and toilet, which doesn't happen between bed and toilet at home. I'm teaching orienteering for 5.5 hours on each Sat and Sun, so, better exposure than today's office work day.

 

[HOBIE]

Good for you Copepod. I used to spend 3 times a week in the North Sea. The reflection off the water was always a tan 😉

 

[Diabeticliberty]

Good for you Copepod. I used to spend 3 times a week in the North Sea. The reflection off the water was always a tan 😉

I used to spend an hour every day in the sun. After 10 years though they let me out. That prison exercise yard was a bit boring after the first 3 years but I am really good at making car number plates 😛

 

[HOBIE]

I used to spend an hour every day in the sun. After 10 years though they let me out. That prison exercise yard was a bit boring after the first 3 years but I am really good at making car number plates 😛

What a "Nutter" you are Brilliant

 

[Pine Marten]

Yeah - but no actual sunshine here today - and a few days a year especially when it isn't always possible to expose as much of your upper body including shoulders to the sun for more than a few days - cos you are trapped inside working etc - just isn't enough.

I've been vitamin D deficient a couple of times (it stopped me giving blood a year or so back - I was a regular blood donor) and needed supplements from the GP. I was advised to carry on taking an over-the-counter supplement to keep it topped up. Both the surgery and the blood donors people commented that, living in a northern hemisphere, lots of British people get deficient. The supplement I take is a fish oil one, with added D and A vitamins, as I'm not that keen on oily fish, and usually eat it only once a week.

Also, I'm not that keen on warm weather, so in this hot weather I tend to stay indoors quite a bit, or go out for short periods - I would get very bored and/or very depressed after an hour in the sun 😱 !

 

[Amigo]

I've been vitamin D deficient a couple of times (it stopped me giving blood a year or so back - I was a regular blood donor) and needed supplements from the GP. I was advised to carry on taking an over-the-counter supplement to keep it topped up. Both the surgery and the blood donors people commented that, living in a northern hemisphere, lots of British people get deficient. The supplement I take is a fish oil one, with added D and A vitamins, as I'm not that keen on oily fish, and usually eat it only once a week.

Also, I'm not that keen on warm weather, so in this hot weather I tend to stay indoors quite a bit, or go out for short periods - I would get very bored and/or very depressed after an hour in the sun 😱 !

You and me both Pine Marten. I know people love the rays but give me a cool, refreshing breeze anytime. Besides which, although I need the Vit D, I don't need another malignant melanoma skin cancer! 😱 which was very unfair for a non sunbather who has never used sunbeds!