Warning about low vitamin D levels (BBC Scotland)

[Guest guest]

ish warning over vitamin D levels

Eleanor Bradford BBC Scotland Health Correspondent.

Doctors are concerned people in Scotland are not getting enough of the vitamin

from sunlight and are not topping up their levels with a healthy diet.

There is increasing evidence that a lack of vitamin D could be linked to cancer

and multiple sclerosis.

Doctors are also concerned about a rise in the bone disease rickets.

Rickets is a rare condition which causes the softening and weakening of bones in

children.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are particularly at risk of vitamin D

deficiency, along with children under five, the elderly, the housebound and

people with darker skin.

Although the advice in these leaflets isn't new, the ish NHS is the only

health service in Britain highlighting the dangers of vitamin D deficiency.

If you live in Scotland you'll be familiar enough with the ish weather to

know why!

On the one hand we're always being warned about the dangers of too much

sunshine, now we're being told we're not getting enough.

It's an easy balance to strike though - 10-15 minutes a day is safe and avoid

the middle of the day when the sun's rays just burn you.

But in Scotland the sun is only strong enough to provide vitamin D between April

and September.

If the body's reserves of vitamin D run out during the winter, they need to be

topped up from oily fish, eggs, meat or a supplement.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: " We know that in Scotland the winter sun

is not strong enough to provide the minimum vitamin D needed for health -

especially for those with darker skin.

" A significant proportion of the UK population has low vitamin D levels. This

leaflet aims to ensure that those at risk are aware of the implications of

vitamin D deficiency and know what they can do to prevent it. "

She added: " Vitamin D is key to maintaining healthy bones. Young children have a

high risk of deficiency and we are seeing an increase in reported cases of

rickets in Scotland.

" These conditions are easily prevented by improving diet and taking a supplement

if you are at risk.

" Recent research suggests that vitamin D deficiency may also contribute to a

range of other medical conditions. The ish government are keen to continue

to monitor this evidence. "

The health secretary is due to speak at the Shine on Scotland conference on

Tuesday, which will bring together academics from across the world to consider

the possible links between vitamin D deficiency and various health problems.

The event is taking place after schoolboy McLaughlin took a petition to the

ish Parliament which called on ministers to produce new guidelines on

vitamin D supplements for children and pregnant women, along with an awareness

campaign about the issue.

took up the cause after watching his mother Kirsten suffering from MS.

He said: " It's amazing that I only launched Shine on Scotland early last year

and so much has happened since.

" The petition lodged at the ish Parliament got great support and I'm really

grateful to the ish government for being prepared to look at this issue.

" I hope the summit is a great success and that something positive can be done

for people with MS and to prevent future generations from developing it. "

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11355810