How Much Is Enough Vitamin D?

Vitamin D, which is essential for strong bones and teeth, is found in UV light.

17:17 27 July 2016

One in five adults in Britain has low levels of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin. Nigella Lawson said that this could be due to the fact that we’re covering way too much in the sun by lavishly applying sunscreen in response to skin cancer warnings.

 

Last week, Public Health England (PHE) announced that the entire population should consider taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day to prevent bone and muscle disease. Although the vitamin can be obtained from eggs and oily fish, the best source is UV light.

 

 

Dr Louis Levy, head of nutrition science at PHE, explained last week: ‘Everyone will need to consider taking a supplement in the autumn and winter if you don’t eat enough foods that naturally contain vitamin D or are fortified with it.’

 

 

Exposing skin to sunlight is the best way to boost vitamin D in the body. Going outside to get sunshine for just 30 minutes can make 250 mcg of vitamin D, which is much higher compared to pills that only contain 25mcg. To avoid getting sun burned, its best to get your rays before 11am or after 3pm. To achieve maximum effect, expose 10per cent of your body, which means exposing the face, neck, back of the hands and arms.

 

 

Susan Lanham-New, a professor of human nutrition at the University of Surrey and a member of the expert committee behind the new guidelines, said: ‘This should be enough to store up an optimum supply,’