People with fair skin could benefit from vitamin D supplements

By Judith Shaw

Cancer Research UK have released findings that suggest people with fairer complexions are more at risk of a vitamin D deficiency. The study, published in Cancer Causes and Control, included 1200 people living in the UK and found that most of the 730 people who recorded lower than optimal vitamin D levels also had very pale, freckled skin.

The fairer your skin, the less vitamin D your body will naturally produce when exposed to the sun. However, simply spending more time in the sun may not be the best solution as those with fairer skin are also more at risk of developing skin cancer with over-exposure to sunlight.

Unfortunately, vitamin D is present in very few foods and so the majority our bodies receive comes from exposure to natural sunlight – believed to be as high as 80% to 90%.

Researchers concluded that people with fairer skin could therefore benefit from supplementation with vitamin D to ensure they are receiving sufficient levels to cover any shortfalls that could lead to a deficiency.

Vitamin D is vital in the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth, and low levels can be seriously damaging to health. In the body vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and without it our bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Together, vitamins D and calcium help protect against conditions such as rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis.

Nutrition is the key to good health and although supplements should be taken as part of a healthy lifestyle and not as a substitute, at Simply Supplements it is our aim to offer natural and convenient ways of helping to ensure that the body gets all the vital nutrients it needs.

At only £7.59 (360 tablets) Simply Supplements High Strength Vitamin D 400iu offers fantastic value for money.

Author: Judith Shaw is Head Nutritionist at Simply Supplements, a leading UK supplier of vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements. Alongside her role in nutrition, she writes many articles on health, nutrition and the role vitamins and minerals can play alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle.