Vitamin D is known as the ‘sunshine’ vitamin because the body obtains this essential vitamin from the sun’s UV rays. With increased awareness of the harmful effects of over exposure to sunlight, and promotion of reduced exposure to reduce the risk of skin cancer, it is becoming evident that more and more people have low vitamin D levels. Older people in rest homes, or the house bound are at particular risk of deficiency. There is also evidence of mild vitamin D deficiency in younger adults, particularly during winter. The more pigment there is in the skin, the less vitamin D is produced, so dark skinned people, those who avoid the sun or women who wear veils, are at increased risk of deficiency.
