Several factors could contribute to a vitamin D deficiency, though the main cause is staying indoors during the day and avoiding natural sunlight.
Minimal exposure to sunlight prevents the body from naturally producing vitamin D and is a common problem for people in the UK during the colder months.
Government advice says that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
The NHS states: “Children from the age of one year and adults need 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day. This includes pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
“Babies up to the age of one year need 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day.”
While sunlight is the best way to enrich your vitamin D levels, it can also be found in naturally oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks and some fortified foods.
According to the NHS, one of the main benefits of getting the recommended amount of this nutrient is to prevent bone deformities, such as rickets and osteomalacia (bone pain).
Source: | This article first appeared on Express.co.uk