Pharmacist says people are taking vitamin D wrong and ‘wasting’ the pills

Everyone is supposed to take the daily pill as we head into autumn

A pharmacist has issued a warning that millions could be missing the benefits of their vitamin D supplements by taking them incorrectly. The NHS advises everyone to take vitamin D daily from the end of September.

The majority of our vitamin D intake is derived from the interaction between our skin and sunlight – a process which is significantly hampered during the autumn and winter months when sunshine is scarce and we’re more likely to stay indoors or bundle up against the cold.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health, bolstering the immune system, supporting muscle function, promoting a positive mood, reducing inflammation, and ensuring heart health. However, if you’re not taking your supplements correctly, you could be throwing your money down the drain and jeopardising your wellbeing.

Jana Abelovska, Superintendent Pharmacist at Click Pharmacy, said: “The best way to get vitamin D is through your diet, supported by supplements like tablets, capsules, gummies or sprays that you use directly into your mouth. Vitamin D is fat soluble, which means that it is absorbed into the body along with fat – this means taking your vitamin D supplement with food that contains some healthy fats, such as nuts or yoghurt, will help your body absorb it much better.

“The recommended daily amount of vitamin D for adults aged between 19 and 70 is 15 mcg which is 600 IU or International Units, a unit used to measure vitamins. It’s really common to take vitamin D supplements, especially as many of us will not get enough vitamin D from sunlight or food alone. Dietary sources of vitamin D include oily fish, mushrooms and eggs, as well as some fortified foods like breakfast cereals and milk or plant-based milk alternatives.”

“It’s not healthy to try and get more vitamin D from the sun by going without sun protection. Also, our bodies make vitamin D in response to UVB radiation from the sun, but most glass blocks UVB rays – meaning that even if you’re sitting indoors in a ray of sunlight, it won’t boost your levels of the vitamin. Don’t use a tanning bed to try and boost your vitamin D – it won’t work as they produce much more UVA radiation than UVB, and it will increase the risk of skin cancer.

“Don’t take too much vitamin D. Because it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, it can build up in your body more easily than other vitamins. Taking too much vitamin D long term can lead to hypercalcemia, an excess of calcium in the body, which can cause problems with your heart, kidneys and bones. 4,000 IU or 100 mcg is considered to be the upper limit of safe vitamin D supplementation.”