Vitamin D ... the doctor says so!

Did you know that, during the autumn and winter months, the NHS recommends that adults and children over 5 years consider taking a daily supplement of vitamin D?

They suggest a supplement containing 10 micrograms of the vitamin is sufficient.

Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body and is therefore essential for keeping bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Deficiency symptoms can include poor immunity to infection, tiredness or fatigue, bone and muscle pain, and poor wound healing.

From late March/early April to the end of September, most of us can get all the vitamin D we need through sunlight on our skin and from eating a balanced diet. However, the lack of sunlight from October to March can make it difficult for us to get enough of this vital vitamin by diet alone.

Dietary sources include oily fish, red meat, egg yolks, liver and some fortified cereals.