Emerging evidence suggests 60 to 70 per cent of Australians have deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D, endocrinologist Professor Terry Diamond has told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Similarly, Melbourne pathology director Ken Sikaris, who oversees 1500 vitamin D tests each week, suggested one of the contributing factors might be people's increased sun-consciousness which has resulted in them avoiding ‘safe' levels of sunshine. "There's a balance…you need sunlight but don't go out in the middle of the day for an hour when the UV is most harmful," he said.
ACT resident Judy Matusiewicz is one Australian to have recently been diagnosed with a deficiency. "I thought vitamin D deficiency in this country was mostly an issue for people who covered up for cultural reasons or who largely remained out of the sun," she said.
Often called the "sunshine vitamin", vitamin D is metabolised by the body from as little as 15 minutes of sun exposure before 10am or after 3pm over summer months, and is critical to bone health, the absorption of calcium, and to overall health and development.
Though naturally occurring in foods such as oily fish, eggs and fortified breads and cereals, these sources of Vitamin D may still be inadequate when sunshine hours are limited, according to the UK government.
As a result, the UK Department of Health stated pregnant and breast-feeding women, as well as children under the age of four, could benefit from supplementation. In concert with this advice, vitamin D supplements are now included under the UK's ‘Healthy Start' scheme, which supplies nutritious foods and infant formula to vulnerable sections of the population.
"Babies receive vitamin D from their mothers while in the womb, and then from breast milk until they are weaned. If a pregnant or breast-feeding woman is lacking in vitamin D, the baby will also have low vitamin D and calcium levels," explained a paediatrician at Ealing Hospital in London, Dr Colin Michie.
Back on home turf, Osteoporosis Australia (OA) has also weighed in on the debate following concern about the rise in the rate of osteoporosis-related bone breakages.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports these have risen from 177 in 2001, to 262 in 2007, leading OA head Peter Ebeling to describe national vitamin D deficiencies as "very serious".
"I think we need to do everything we can to prevent the number of broken bones that are occurring," he said. "If people think about getting out into the sun for a little time when it's safe during the summer months… that would be good. If they're not able to do that I think vitamin D supplements are very good."
How much is enough?
According to Professor Robert Simpson of the University of Michigan, recommended levels are still too low. "People should get about 1000 IU, perhaps 2000," he told HealthDay.
At a strength of 1000 IU, Blackmores' Vitamin D3 is a one a day dose in an easy to swallow, soft gel capsule – providing an easy, inexpensive option for gaining adequate levels of vitamin D.
Blackmores pre-conception and pregnancy products, Blackmores Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding Gold and Blackmores Conceive Well Gold contain 500IU and 800IU of Vitamin D respectively per daily dose.
References available on request