Vitamin D: for healthcare professionals and the public
Raising awareness of the risk of vitamin D deficiency, its consequences and who is most at risk of deficiency.
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Health professionals should refer to our updated advice on vitamin D. NHS Choices also provides up to date advice on vitamin D and sunlight for the general public.
Documents
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These leaflets explain the importance of vitamin D, and current government recommendations on vitamin D supplements for at-risk groups of the population, including:
- pregnant and breastfeeding women
- infants and young children
- older people
- those who have low or no exposure to sunlight
They aim to provide consistent messages about the importance of preventing vitamin D deficiency.
The National Diet and Nutrition Survey rolling programme (2008 and 2009 to 2011 and 2012) suggests that up to 1 in 4 adults in the UK have a low vitamin D status, and are therefore at increased risk of deficiency.