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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.
Top-ups
Limited
amounts of the vitamin are found in foods such as oily fish, eggs and fortified
cereals.
But, for
most people, the bulk of their vitamin D is made from the action of sunlight on
their skin.
And
official estimates suggest one in five adults and one in six children in
England may have low levels.
Now, an
extensive review of the evidence, carried out by the Scientific Advisory
Committee on Nutrition (SACN), suggests everyone over the age of one needs to
consume 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day in order to protect bone and muscle
health.
And
public health officials say, in winter months, people should consider getting
this from 10 microgram supplements, if their diet is unlikely to provide it.
Why is
vitamin D important?
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Its main
function is to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which
are vital for the growth and maintenance of healthy bones, teeth and muscles.
In
extreme cases, low levels can lead to rickets in children - where the bones
become soft and weak and misshapen as they continue to grow.
In
adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia - causing severe bone
pain and muscle aches.
Meanwhile,
children aged up to four should take supplements each day all year round, as
should babies under one year - unless they already consume this in infant
formula.
Prof
Peter Selby, at the University of Manchester, welcomed the advice.
He said:
"In particular, it dispels any doubt of the place of vitamin D in the
maintenance of bone health and should ensure that all people will now be
encouraged to receive vitamin D to reduce their risk of bone disease and
fracture."
Previous
advice that recommended top-up daily supplements for a few at-risk groups,
including pregnant or breastfeeding women, and over-65s, still stands.
For
example, people whose skin has little exposure to the sun, or who always cover
their skin to go outside, should take the supplements throughout the year.
Black and
Asian people should also consider the supplements all year round.
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Dr Louis
Levy, head of nutrition science at Public Health England, told BBC Radio 4's
Today programme: "This is a change in advice, previously we have said that
babies from six months to five years should have a supplement and only those
people at risk of deficiency should take a supplement.
"Previously
we felt that everybody would get enough from the sunlight.
"This
is new advice based on evidence looked at over the last five years."
He said
those who apply sunscreen in the way the manufacturer recommended would not
make vitamin D.
"When
you go out, you do need to have short bursts without sunscreen and make sure
that you don't get sunburnt," he said.
NHS
England says vitamin D supplements are available free of charge for low-income
families, through the Healthy Start scheme.
Separately,
health officials in Scotland say they have updated their guidance in line with
the new recommendations, but only for people aged over six months.
They are
currently considering whether to extend the advice to babies from birth.
SACN
reviewed a growing body of evidence linking vitamin D to bone and muscle
health.
It also
looked at studies suggesting Vitamin D levels might have an impact on cancers,
cardiovascular disease and multiple sclerosis but found there was insufficient
evidence to draw any firm conclusions.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36846894
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