ADVICE for everyone to take daily doses of vitamin D during the autumn and winter is being adopted in Scotland.
Scientists have recommended that everyone over the age of one should consume 10 micrograms of vitamin D - sometimes known as the sunshine vitamin - each day in order to protect their bones and muscles.
Aileen Campbell, Scotland's Public Health Minister, announced that the Scottish Government is now using this as their official guidance.
This means people in Scotland should consider taking a vitamin D supplement particularly between September and April - but also during the summer if they spend little time outside.
The new recommendation is based on a report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) which has carried out an extensive review of the evidence on vitamin D. Professor Hilary Powers, chair of the working group, said the findings represented a "sea change".
The body makes vitamin D in response to sunshine on the skin and it is also found in some foods. One of its functions is to regulate amounts of calcium and phosphate, vital for healthy bones, muscles and teeth.
Professor Powers said: "The evidence on which we based the judgement includes, for example, risk of falls in older people and also muscle strength and muscle function which are important for mobility and stability in older people."
Data viewed by the committee showed the percentage of people with low levels of vitamin D in their blood is higher in Scotland than in England.
Professor Powers said this maybe partly due to diet, but it is probably largely due to the Scottish climate.
However, she said, their recommendations are intended to be "protective of all at risk groups" including Scotland.
She stressed that their advice related to vitamin D supplements, rather than products which contain multiple nutrients.
She said: "It is very likely that producers of supplements will be looking at these recommendations and perhaps changing their approach to producing single vitamin D supplements."
As a precaution, SACN has recommended that all babies from birth up to one year of age should consume 8.5 to10 micrograms of vitamin D per day.
However, the Scottish Government has not yet adopted this advice for children under the age of six months. They are currently assessing if their position should be revised.
Ms Campbell said: “Vitamin D is essential for good bone health and it is important that we raise awareness of this and of these new guidelines on supplementation. Healthcare professionals play an important role here and we will work to ensure that they are fully aware of these new recommendations."
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