Vitamin D is a hot topic in cold weather, and deficiency will become an issue across the UK in the darker months. World Vitamin D Day is being established on November 2nd by organizations across the world to promote the importance of vitamin D for health.
The winter season of colds and flu results from reduced resistance to infections caused by low blood levels of vitamin D during the dark months, scientists interested in vitamin D believe. Randomised clinical trials, the highest level of proof in medicine, have shown that vitamin D improves resistance to infections such as flu and tuberculosis.
The UK government recommends vitamin D3 supplementation for several key groups of people, including all pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, all young children from 6 months to 5 years old, people over 65 years of age and those with low or no exposure to the sun. Worldwide vitamin D experts recommend vitamin D blood levels be maintained between 100-150 nanomoles/litre, a level which is achieved by very few people in the British Isles. Britain and Ireland, as well as being far north, have a very cloudy atmosphere and so we have one of the least sunny climates in the industrial world. Most people in the UK, except possibly for those who go for a winter sun holiday, will benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement in winter.
Vitamin D Advice:
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the most potent form of vitamin D and is the same type made by the body on exposure to sunlight.
- Vitamin D is oil-soluble. Vitamin D in dry tablets may not be as well absorbed by the body. Look for vitamin D3 in oil, such as Bio-Vitamin D3, which is suspended in olive oil.
- Control your dosage. You could get too much or too little D. While vitamin D toxicity is rare (even when taken at high levels) some manufacturers cannot guarantee accurate dosage. Sprays and tablets not made to pharmaceutical standards may vary dramatically in active ingredient.
- Choose a supplement made to pharmaceutical standards to ensure safety and consistency.
Pharma Nord have been working hard to grow awareness of vitamin D throughout the health food industry, as well as by supplying our popular, pharmaceutical grade Bio-Vitamin D3 products into hospitals and pharmacies.
Pharma Nord Bio-Vitamin D3 is available in 800U, 1000IU and 5000IU sizes.
