'1 in 6 adults are thought to have a Vitamin D deficiency and roughly 20% of children'
Author: Chandy Rodgers
A UK government review showed that 1 in 6 adults are thought to have a Vitamin D deficiency and roughly 20% of children. Vitamin D is important for your bones, immune system and mental health and therefore you want to make sure yours is the best it can be. By the end of this series of blog posts you will learn:
In this blog post we are going to take a look at the different reasons why you or someone you know might have a Vitamin D deficiency. I think most of us can relate to at least one of these.
Why might your Vitamin D levels be low?
Geography
Where you live in the world can impact your Vitamin D levels. Those who live in areas with long winters or frequent grey days, will have less sun exposure compared to those with longer hours of sun exposure. As Vitamin D is created by the sun's UV rays hitting your skin, less sunshine reduces the opportunity for this process to occur.
Lifestyle
If you spend lots of time indoors, wear suncream, or your skin is covered with protective clothing (e.g. PPE or long sleeved tops) this can limit the amount of sunlight that your skin is exposed to. Therefore, even in sunny regions you can be at risk of a Vitamin D deficiency. We will take a look at how you can adapt your lifestyle to optimise your Vitamin D levels later in this post.
Skin Tone
Individuals with darker skin have higher levels of melanin, a chemical that the body produces to protect itself from UV rays emitted from the sun. While this natural phenomenon serves as a great protector against sunburn, skin cancer and premature aging it reduces a person’s ability to make Vitamin D.
Age
Older adults can be less efficient at manufacturing Vitamin D, they may wrap themselves in more clothes and spend less time outside, putting them at greater risk of a Vitamin D deficiency.
Genetics
Some people have what is referred to as genetic SNPs on the genes that help them to make and utilise Vitamin D within the body. This makes them genetically more susceptible to having lower levels of Vitamin D even if they were to spend many hours outside each day. You can find out if you have a genetic SNP by speaking to a private healthcare practitioner who specialises in Nutrigenomics. Check out our Practitioner Directory or send us a message and we will direct you to someone who can help.
Dietary Habits
A lack of Vitamin D-rich foods in your diet can increase your chances of having lower Vitamin D levels. Those who are vegetarian or vegan are at an increased risk as the foods containing the highest levels of Vitamin D are typically animal based.
Medical Conditions
Those with certain medical conditions are at an increased risk of having lower levels of Vitamin D. Conditions that impact the digestive system, for example, Crohn's and Coeliac can impair absoprtion of Vitamin D. While kidney and liver diseases can impair the body’s ability to turn Vitamin D into the active form necessary to perform its important functions. In addition to this, certain medications interfere with Vitamin D metabolism, such as certain steroids, anticonvulsants and some weight loss drugs.
Click on the button below to find out when and how to check your Vitamin D levels.
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