A third of people incorrectly think you can get enough vitamin D from the sun all year round
Vitamin D plays an important role in the body, keeping bones, teeth and muscles healthy. While it’s only possible to get enough vitamin D from sunlight in the UK between the end of March and September, new research from the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) shows over a third of people (37%) incorrectly think they can get the amount they need all year round.
In the UK, 3.5 million people are living with osteoporosis, a condition which causes bones to weaken and break more easily. Half of women and 20% of men are expected to break a bone during their lifetime as a result of the condition.1 While there are other risk factors, a lack of vitamin D could increase a person’s risk of osteoporosis and broken bones as it allows us to absorb calcium which is essential for bone strength.
One of the best natural sources of vitamin D is from sunlight on bare skin between the end of March and the end of September, but research shows that 32% of people are spending less time outside than they were before the pandemic.
As the clocks go forward and we enter the vitamin D window in the UK, Craig Revel Horwood, Strictly Come Dancing judge and ROS ambassador is helping to raise awareness of the so-called ‘sunshine vitamin’ and its link to our bone health.
Craig Revel Horwood said:
“There are a number of risk factors for osteoporosis which cause bones to lose strength and many of these are related to lifestyle. If we lead an active life and have a balanced diet, it’s easy to think we’re doing enough to protect our bodies. In reality though, you don’t always know if you’re actually getting enough of the nutrients you need, especially when it comes to your bones.
“Many of us are aware we get vitamin D from being outside, but I didn’t realise how important it is for strong bones or how much sunlight you need on your skin every day to get enough. I’ll be getting out and about more now that we’re able to absorb vitamin D from the spring sunshine and I’ll be taking a vitamin D supplement this winter when we can’t get enough from the sun.”
Vitamin D is also included in some foods including oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks or fortified foods but it’s difficult to get enough vitamin D from food alone. The recent research carried out by the ROS showed that although 63% of people identified diet as another source of vitamin D alongside sunlight, a third (29%) were unable to identify vitamin D-rich food sources.
The research also showed that only around half of people (57%) are aware of the importance of vitamin D compared to 86% of people that understand the role calcium plays in bone health.
Julia Thomson, Lead Specialist Osteoporosis Nurse at the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said:
“Sunlight is one of the best natural sources of vitamin D as it helps our bodies to absorb calcium effectively. If you are able to access outside space and feel comfortable doing so, exposing bare skin to sunlight little and often (without sun cream which stops the sun’s rays reaching your skin) in the spring and summer months, can help to increase your vitamin D levels. It’s important to still take care not to burn. Glass blocks the sun’s rays but sitting inside close to an open door or window can also help.
“Depending on your skin type, this could be for as little as ten minutes, once or twice a day between 11am and 3pm. It’s important to take care not to burn, however, the time it takes to make sufficient vitamin D is usually less than the time it takes for skin to be damaged.”
Public health advice is that during the autumn and winter months, people consider taking a daily 10 microgram (sometimes called 400 units) vitamin D supplement.
You can find out more about vitamin D and bone health or take the vitamin D quiz at theros.org.uk
