This Morning: Doctor Chris discusses vitamin D deficiency
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Vitamin D is made when the skin comes into contact with sunshine. However, we can also get vitamin D from our food intake. It has several important functions within the body, but it is primarily known for promoting calcium absorption, which makes it a vital nutrient for bone health. Symptoms of a lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.
The study, published by The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, saw Surrey’s researchers conduct a systematic review of the vitamin D and dietary intakes of members of the black community across the globe.
The findings suggest that people of African descent should consider taking vitamin D supplements and consume more vitamin D rich foods.
The paper found that when looking at black individuals who live in low latitude countries (such as South American countries and South Africa), there was vitamin D sufficiency. However, in those who live at higher latitudes, such as in the UK, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was common.
The authors of the study suggest that their findings highlight a need for public health and clinical action to improve the awareness of Vitamin D deficiency in African-Caribbean communities.
The paper highlighted that in the UK, the NHS “could include strategies to increase vitamin D intake, as well as the use of safe sunlight exposure, as appropriate”.
Further studies on the association between vitamin D and health outcomes, using larger sample sizes, is needed in this population, especially at higher latitudes.”
Rebecca Vearing, co-author of the study said: “As the majority of our vitamin D comes from exposure to sunlight, for many people getting enough vitamin D may be a real challenge.”
The PhD research student at the Department of Nutritional Sciences also advised that eating a nutritionally balanced diet including foods that provide vitamin D – such as oily fish, red meat, egg yolk and fortified foods such as breakfast cereals – are key to boosting vitamin D status.
Taking regular supplements are key to boosting vitamin D status, according to the study.
These findings are supported by a second paper from the University of Surrey published by The Journal of Nutrition, where researchers studied how vitamin D supplements and sunlight exposure affect the health of Brazilian women living in both the UK and Brazil.
This first-of-its-kind study examined two groups of the same ethnic identity and sex, living in different countries in an identical way and examined whether supplements or sunlight altered the vitamin D status of its participants.
Researchers studied 120 healthy Brazilian women in parallel, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trials conducted at different latitudes in Brazil and England.
Participants were chosen randomly to receive a daily vitamin D supplement or placebo for 12 weeks during the wintertime.
Researchers found that although vitamin D dietary requirements may vary considerably between participants in each country, a moderate dose of vitamin D supplementation is a remarkably effective strategy for raising and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels over the winter months in both the UK and Brazil.
The participants with the lowest initial vitamin D levels had the most significant increases in response to vitamin D supplements.
The study’s conclusions found that the effect of vitamin D supplements is not dependent on latitude.
Dr Marcela Mendes, visiting research fellow from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Surrey, said: “Our research looks at different ethnic groups, and our findings show that people might benefit from increasing consumption of foods that naturally contain vitamin D or are fortified with it, or even taking an additional supplement, in the autumn and winter, regardless of where they live.”
A separate study, outlined by doctor Rathish Nair, discovered that African-Carribean’s absorb more UV in the melanin of their skin than white-skinned people.
Those of ethnic minorities therefore require more sun exposure to produce the same amount of vitamin D.
High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is particularly important as it is linked to high mortality rates, according to this study. Emerging research supports the possible role of vitamin D against cancer, heart disease, fractures and falls, autoimmune diseases, influenza, type-2 diabetes, and depression.
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