Lack of Vitamin D Potential Health Dangers

Studies show that Britons who do not get enough sun during the winter months are left with insufficient levels of vitamin D, increasing their risk of cancer, diabetes and bone diseases.

With the low number of daylight hours from October to March it results in over 50 per cent of the population being deficient in the vitamin by the end of the winter, a government survey has shown. Experts have called for urgent consideration to be given to fortifying staple foods such as bread and milk, or boosting levels of the vitamin in supplements.

Vitamin D, is naturally produced by the action of sunlight on the skin, and is the only vitamin that humans make themselves and is essential for the health of the skin and bones, but also has wider ranging health benefits.

The most well known need for the vitamin is to prevent rickets in children and osteomalcia in adults, the weakening of bones. There is also evidence that it is also protective against some cancers of the colon, breast, prostate and ovary and against autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes. It may also reduce blood pressure, which would help prevent heart attacks and strokes."

The D of H has never set recommended levels of the vitamin because it has always been assumed that casual exposure to sunlight would produce sufficient amounts. But until now that assumption had never been scientifically studied although there have been concerns voiced previously.

Professor Bentham who led the study says the survey showed that a substantial proportion of the population have levels of vitamin D by the end of the winter that are insufficient, and although they are not low enough to cause osteomalcia they may be bad for the bones and increase the risk of other diseases.

The simplest way of getting a boost of vitamin D is to go out in the sun but Professor Bentham, speaking after a briefing on vitamin D organised by the Science Media Centre, said that was a "very damaging idea".

The problem is it is well documented that there has been a rise in skin cancer because people are going out in the sun too much so it is essential that a balanced message is put out.

Other sources of the vitamin can be obtained from eating oily fish - such as salmon, trout and sardines which are the richest natural source of the vitamin. Many breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin D.

In the US milk and bread are routinely fortified with vitamin D and it may be the case for the same in the UK but consideration would need to be given to those who show a reaction to it.

The Institute of Child Health in London, say there were reports of rickets making a comeback, especially among Asian and African-Caribbean children, and they feel there is an overreaction to "cover-up" campaigns against skin cancer which is partly responsible for the lack of vitamin D. source: department of health/independent