The vitamin deficiency that could put you at risk of respiratory illness

This Morning: Doctor Chris discusses vitamin D deficiency

Dr Newman-Beinart warned a deficiency “can cause serious health problems”.

“Many of the UK’s population are deficient in vitamin D,” said Dr Newman-Beinart.

A vitamin D deficiency is affecting around one in five British adults, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Not getting enough vitamin D, which is vital for bone health, “joints can weaken and you could be more at risk of stress fractures”.

READ MORE… Six red flags you’re lacking an essential vitamin – and how to combat it

What are stress fractures?

Stress fractures are tiny cracks in a bone, the Mayo Clinic confirms.

A lack of adequate vitamin D can play a role in the serotonin levels in the brain, said Dr Newman-Beinart.

She explained: “Serotonin is known as the happy hormone because it is important in keeping your moods up and you feeling your best.

“A low mood, especially in winter, could be a sign of vitamin D deficiency.”

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Vitamin D is also important for a person’s immunity, thus not getting enough vitamin D can weaken your immune defence.

Dr Newman-Beinart said: “Did you know that supplementing with vitamin D may help to reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms?

“A recent review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), the gold standard of research, found that vitamin D supplementation resulted in decreased risk of death and reduced risk of ICU admission for people with COVID-19.”

The NHS countered: “There is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19.”

How can you top up in vitamin D?

Dietary sources of vitamin D include:

  • Oily fish (tuna, mackerel, salmon)
  • Eggs
  • Dairy products (milk, cheese)
  • Fortified foods (cereal, breads, juices)
  • Mushrooms.

“For people who don’t eat these foods and get regular sunshine, it may be worth considering a vitamin D supplement,” said Dr Newman-Beinart.

Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.

“I recommend the BetterYou D3 Oral Sprays,” said Dr Newman-Beinart.

For those wanting to know if they’re currently deficient in vitamin D, BetterYou also offers an at-home vitamin D deficiency test kit.

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