Understanding Vitamin D Deficiency

Understanding vitamin D deficiency Vitamin D is used by the body to absorb calcium and phosphate, so plays an important role in maintaining the strength of our bones and teeth. Vitamin D can be obtained through your diet and exposure to sunlight. However between November and March, sunlight does not have enough of the required ultraviolet B radiation for our bodies to produce any vitamin D. As we age, our skin becomes less efficient at synthesizing vitamin D from sunlight. As shown below, the highest rates of vitamin D deficiency in England and Wales are seen in those over 70. Diagnoses of vitamin D deficiency are most common in over 70's. However, low vitamin D levels may be 10 present for a long time before diagnosis Risk of vitamin D deficiency increases during puberty. Low levels of vitamin D have also been associated with early puberty in girls 1-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90+ Hospital Episodie Stotiics 2013/14 - Heath ond Sociol Core infomotion Centre - Doto Gor k Popularion btimates for England and Wales 2011 |Cenun - Ofice tor Natonal Statttia Women are also at risk at several stages throughout life. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are often advised to take vitamin D supplements because it is difficult to achieve the required levels through diet alone. Older women appear more at risk of vitamin D deficiency, than men. Several studies have reported increased risk of coronary artery disease among women with low vitamin D levels Female Male 10,000 20,000 30,000 Hospihal Episode Stofisics 2013/14- Heath ond Sociol Core intomotion Centre - Dota GoUk Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because we obtain it through exposure to ultraviolet B radiation in sunlight. During the winter vitamin D levels can falI, especially for those over 50. Vitamin D supplements are a simple way to increase your vitamin D levels. Find out more about vitamin D supplements at FutureYouHealth.com Future"/ou supplements developed by Cambridge Nutraceuticals http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Vitamin-D.aspx https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/#h6 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22865308 Diagnoses per 1,000 people