Vitamin D – an often misunderstood essential vitamin

Most adults are unaware that Vitamin D is crucial for them in so many ways

Background

The debate between slapping on the sun cream and getting enough sunlight to make Vitamin D has been a lot hotter (and drier) than the summer! It is thought that 50% of adults in the UK are deficient in Vitamin D and this figure only increases during the dark months of the winter.

Although most people understand the need for children to have enough Vitamin D for healthy bone growth, but most adults are unaware that Vitamin D is crucial for them in so many ways.

Why we need Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency is not just about Ricketts in children – adults also need Vitamin D. Did you know:

• Vitamin D could help protect against radiation – so it may be one of our body’s own in-built sunscreens.

• Vitamin D is a vital part of your immune system and helps you fight off diseases like the common cold.

• A study has shown that Vitamin D might be a major factor in keeping the brain active in later life.

• Athletes who take Vitamin D supplements perform better.

• Vitamin D can extend live expectancy.

• It is thought that over 50% of adults in the UK are deficient in Vitamin D. In the winter this can go up to 1 in 6 people being Vitamin D deficient.

• 9 in 10 adults of South Asian origin may be Vitamin D deficient.

• People with dark skins (particularly Afro–Caribbeans and Asians) and the elderly are more prone to Vitamin D deficiency as their skins do not absorb so much sunlight.

• Babies born to women who have not taken adequate Vitamin D during pregnancy can have growth problems, late teething and developmental problems.

• Adequate Vitamin D can help prevent some cancers.

• Vitamin D helps you loose weight.

• Vitamin D reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women.

• People with an adequate, regular Vitamin D intake have lower abdominal body fat so it can help fight heart disease, diabetes, stroke and hypertension.

• American scientists believe that Vitamin D is linked to multiple sclerosis because closer to the Equator, where there is more regular daily sunlight, the condition is much rarer.

• A study has shown that children with asthma had fewer hospital emergencies if they had adequate levels of Vitamin D.

How to get Vitamin D

A few foods contain Vitamin D – oily fish (eg. salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna), eggs, dried shiitake mushrooms and it is added to many breakfast cereals and spreads.

Most of our Vitamin D is made within our bodies when sunlight is absorbed through the skin. Sunlight through a window does not count nor does wearing sunscreen. Adults should get at least 20 minutes of natural sunlight twice a week on their skin (e.g. face and arms) without sunscreen on.

Getting enough sunlight is not the same as sun bathing – you should always protect against sun burn so getting enough sunlight has to be a judgement call. It is advised that, if you are very fair, you go in the sun without sun screen as much as possible early or later in the day and take regular Vitamin D supplements.

However, you can overdose on Vitamin D (in supplement format) and this can cause kidney stones or malfunction, fatigue, nausea or heart and circulation problems.

Testing for Vitamin D deficiency

It is normally hard to get a Vitamin D test from a GP or health practitioner because Vitamin D deficiency is often only obvious when the symptoms have become very serious.   However, you can now buy a test online from www.myrios.co.uk for £37.50, which give you laboratory testing in your own home.

Self testing

This is a new concept for most people in Britain, but it gives you real freedom to take control of your care pathway from the comfort of your own home. myrios offers 14 tests and it is available online and via a pharmacy. Testing at home offers you a convenient, private and easy way to test for common conditions – there are no waiting room queues, no organising time off work or child minding while you go to the doctor and the report is sent direct to you. It is private, easy and convenient.

Myrios

Myrios is an over-the-counter blood test kit that enables you to test yourself for a variety of conditions/illnesses. You simply take a small blood sample in the comfort and privacy of you r own home. Put the sample in the provided and send it off to the myrios laboratory. They will analyse it and, within seven working days, they will send you back a report that is easy to understand with an indication of your Vitamin D level and advice on where to go for more information. See www.myrios.co.uk for more information.

See You Tube video for a demonstration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgEfELsl22M

Notes to editors:

myrios can be used to test for:

Anaemia

Cholesterol

Coeliac disease

Diabetes (HbA1c)

Hepatitis (B & C)

Glandular fever (Mononucleosis PB)

Gout (Uric acid)

Hypothyroidism

Iron (Ferritin)

Menopause

Stomach ulcer (H.pylori)

Syphilis

Vitamins and minerals

For further information please see www.myrios.co.uk.

About myrios and Synergy Health Laboratory Services (SHLS) :

myrios is the first OTC product that gives consumers access to timely, accurate blood tests.  Blood samples are tested by Synergy Health Laboratory Services (SHLS). SHLS is a fully accredited laboratory, which is one of the UK’s leading testing laboratories. They undertake tests on tens of thousands of samples each day for the NHS, major companies and the police.

myrios was launched in the UK in February 2012.

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