- Dubai Physiotherapy & Family Medicine Clinic
Is Vitamin D deficiency common?
Dr Jane Aitken is a UK trained GP working at Dubai Physiotherapy and Family Medicine Clinic
Is Vitamin D deficiency common? Yes
Vitamin D deficiency is more common than you might think. Globally, studies have suggested roughly one billion people are Vitamin D deficient.
The WHO published research based in the UAE* Deficiency was found among all age groups, in both sexes and in both local and non-local populations: overall 85.4% were vitamin D deficient, 12.5% showed insufficient serum vitamin D level, and only 2.1% had an appropriate level.
Vitamin D, do we need to care if we are getting enough? Yes
Low Vitamin D is not only related to poor bone health but also, we now know low Vitamin D levels can be associated with depression, tiredness, poor recovery from infections, lower sexual function in both males and females. More recently a link between low Vitamin D levels and an increased risk of developing diabetes type 2 has been suggested.
How do we get our Vitamin D?
The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors.
Vitamin D is also found in a small number of foods including: oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel; red meat, egg yolks, and fortified foods – such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals. Another source of vitamin D is from dietary supplements.
Why do we get low in Vitamin D?
We spend a lot of time indoors particularly during the summer months in the UAE. We avoid prolonged sun exposure because of risk of skin damage and skin cancers.
People with dark skin have less ability to produce vitamin D from the sun. There are conditions that make it difficult to absorb nutrients from food, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease. As we get older our bodies are less efficient at absorbing Vitamin D.
Can you take too much Vitamin D –
Yes it’s a fat soluble vitamin so it can build up in your body and at high levels can cause toxicity.
How do you know if you have low Vitamin D?
You can get a blood test that measures your Vitamin D3 level.
Book an appt to speak to us about your vitamin D levels
Reference-
*https://www.emro.who.int/emhj-volume-22-2016/volume-22-issue-9/the-status-of-serum-vitamin-d-in-the-population-of-the-united-arab- emirates.html#:~:text=The%20overall%20mean%20level%20of,2.1%25%20had%20an%20appropriate%20level.
