Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin – Are you getting enough?

Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin – Are you getting enough?
Written by Soodeh Akhondan Bsc (Hons), Msc, Consultant Dietician
Verified by Dr Fong Hoa Pham, MBBS PhD DIC BSc DipBSLM MRCGP, Consultant GP
Feeling tired and sluggish? Is it worse over the winter months? Or maybe you spend most of your time indoors? If so, you may be deficient in the ‘sunshine’ vitamin! 1 in 6 adults and nearly 20% of children have low vitamin D levels (Department of Health and Social Care, 2022). Vitamin D is vital for strong bones, pain-free joints, a healthy immune system and even good mood. Keep reading to learn more and understand what our registered dietitian recommends to ensure you are getting enough.
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroidal hormone. It is synthesised in our skin cells by exposure to ultraviolet light. Some foods provide rich sources of vitamin D however sufficient levels cannot be attained only from diet. The main source of vitamin D synthesis is through exposure to sunlight.
80-90% of vitamin D is produced in the skin cells from exposure to the Sun light. Only 10-20% of vitamin D can be derived from diet (NICE, 2022)
Why do we need it?
Vitamin D is needed for healthy bones, healthy immune system and regulates cell growth and differentiation to protect against certain cancers.
Vitamin D plays a vital role regulating the body’s calcium and phosphate. It also plays a role in sleep regulation through triggering the production of melatonin (Romano et al. 2020). In addition, studies have shown vitamin D to play a key role in reducing cancer cell growth, infections, and inflammation (Fleet et al., 2012; Liu et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2017).
Deficiency can lead to: Rickets, Joint pain, osteoporosis, insomnia, low mood and depression, weight gain, fatigue, cramps and a higher risk of falls and fractures (Yao et al. 2019). Deficiency can put you at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and colon cancer.
Sun exposure
Firstly, we must understand that not all sun exposure leads to vitamin D synthesis. There are two types of UV light, UV-A and UV-B. UV-A is associated with skin aging, UV-B is associated with skin burning. The skin cells use UV-B to synthesis vitamin D.
Vitamin D can be synthesised underwater and through scattered UV-B rays when in shade. UV-B CANNOT however penetrate glass, although UV-A rays CAN still reach your skin.
Suncream can block both UVA and UVB rays, so whilst sun exposure can support vitamin D synthesis, be aware of how much exposure you get to avoid negative effects. It is important to consider, if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, ensure a high factor protection and consider more reliance on food and supplements for vitamin D repletion.
Risk factors of vitamin D deficiency
- Vitamin D synthesis is limited with less sunlight, which are controlled by season, time of day, latitude, air pollution levels, altitude, suncream use and time spend indoors (Lips, 2006).
- Over 65s are more at risk for deficiency as are people who are obese or have kidney or liver disease (Lips, 2006).
- People with darker skin tones are at higher risk of deficiency due to the extra melanin pigment in the skin which protects the skin from UV rays (Powe et al. 2013).
How can I get enough vitamin D?
Recommended sun exposure:
The National Institute of Health (NICE) recommends unprotected sun exposure of 5-30 minutes between 10am – 3pm two to three times a week.
Should I take vitamin D supplements?
NHS England recommends taking 10micrograms vitamin D supplement over the darker Autumn and Winter months due to the limited sun light exposure and daylight hours. People at higher risk of deficiency are recommended to take 10 micrograms vitamin D every day throughout the year.
There are 2 types of vitamin D supplements: Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) which is naturally made in plants; and Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) which is found in animal meats. There is some evidence that vitamin D3 supplements result in higher and more sustained vitamin D levels (Wilson et al. 2017). If you are following a vegan lifestyle, reminder to check all the ingredients, as some other components of capsules, such as gelatine, are animal derived.
Be careful! It is possible to take too much through supplements – over time this can cause a calcium build-up in the body, and in turn, weaken bones, and damage the kidneys and heart. NHS England recommends not exceeding 100 micrograms of vitamin D a day. It is not possible however to overdose through sun or food sources as the body regulates this.
You can optimise the absorption of supplements by:
- Taking supplements in the morning/early afternoon as taking them later in the day can disturb sleep (Han et al. 2017).
- Taking supplements alongside a low-fat snack or meal (Dawson-Hughes, 2013).
- Have a diet rich in vitamin K2 by including animal foods & fermented dishes (Capozzi et al. 2020).
- Have a Magnesium-rich diet or supplement with Magnesium (Reddy & Edwards, 2019). Foods rich in magnesium include nuts, seeds, wholegrains, dark leafy vegetables, milk, yoghurt, dried legumes and dried fruit.
How can I get vitamin D from my diet?
Although only 10-20% of vitamin D can be derived from diet, choosing vitamin D-rich foods can support your intake:
- Oily fish – salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring
- Red Meat
- Liver
- Egg Yolks
- Fortified foods (foods with added nutrients and vitamins)
- Mushrooms
Why you should consider checking your vitamin D levels
With the improvement of technology, it has become easier to stay indoors for many aspects: entertainment, food shopping, exercise and more. This not only affects our exposure to the outside world and sun but also impacts our dietary choices, mental health and holistic wellbeing.
Uniquely Health offers easy at-home blood test kits to discover your vitamin D levels and provide tailored support to get your vitamin D levels sufficient as part of a holistic wellness check.
Your blood test can show:
< 25nmol/L = Vitamin D deficient
25-50nmol/L = Vitamin D inadequate in some people
50nmol/L = Vitamin D suficient for most people
Book your exploratory call with a clinician to find out more.
References
Lips, P., 2006. Vitamin D physiology. Progress in biophysics and molecular biology, 92(1), pp.4-8.
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition: Vitamin D and Health (2016).
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