The advice comes as the nation is being instructed to remain at home in order to stop the spread of coronavirus. This has raised concerns that people are not getting enough vitamin D – which the body usually produces by itself when skin is directly exposed to sunlight.
But despite the wall-to-wall sunshine that has fallen on many parts of the country this week, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a garden that they can use to enjoy it.
And there may be many others who cannot leave the house long enough for daily exercise due to home and family commitments or health issues.
What’s more, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has specifically said that sunbathing in public areas is against the government’s guidance on social distancing.
To get around the problem, the NHS has advised people to consider taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplements a day to keep bones and muscles healthy.
It usually only advises people to do so during the winter months when there is generally less sunlight.
The new advice – available on the NHS vitamin D page – adds: “You can buy vitamin D supplements at most pharmacies and supermarkets. Do not buy more than you need.”
It also addresses reports about a link between vitamin D and coronavirus, noting: “There have been some news reports about vitamin D reducing the risk of coronavirus. However, there is no evidence that this is the case.”
This refers to reports in papers earlier this week that researchers at the University of Granada in Spain are planning to investigate whether vitamin D could be used to help treat Covid-19.
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The plans involve a 10-week trial involving 200 coronavirus patients, it is understood.
Vitamin D helps to regulate calcium and phosphate levels in the body, which are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
If someone does not get enough of it, it can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and osteomalacia in adults, according to the NHS.
People can usually get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight during the spring and summer months from around late March/early April to the end of September.
But in the autumn and winter months, between October and early March, there is not enough sunlight for people to produce enough vitamin D themselves.
However, sunlight is not the only source of the vitamin. It is also present in a small number of foods, including oily fish, red meat and liver, egg yolks and foods that are fortified such as some breakfast cereals and fat spreads.
But the NHS says it is “difficult” for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone.
As such, it is advised that adults and children over 5 years old – pregnant and breastfeeding women included – take a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms during the autumn and winter.
However, people should take care not to take too much vitamin D. The NHS says that adults should not take more than 100 micrograms a day, children aged one to 10 should not have more than 50 micrograms a day, and infants under 12 months should not have more than 25 micrograms a day.
Too much vitamin D can lead to a build-up of calcium in the body, known as hypercalcaemia.
This can weaken the bones, as well as cause damage to the heart and kidneys.
Though the NHS notes it is not possible to overdose on vitamin D through expose to sunlight alone.
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