Author: Dr. Szilvia Arnold-Kovács, specialist pharmacist (20 January 2018)
Vitamin D (which is not actually a vitamin, we only call it that for reasons of medical history) is produced in the skin by the effect of UV-B radiation during sunbathing. In Hungary, however, from autumn to spring the sunshine is not enough to produce the necessary amount of vitamin D. The UV-A radiation of tanning beds is not suitable for forming vitamin D, and the average Hungarian diet provides only about 80 IU (international units), a fraction of the desirable amount.
Much has been said in the media lately about the importance of vitamin D supplementation, yet 90% of the Hungarian population suffers from vitamin D deficiency by the end of winter. Numerous studies in recent years have proven that vitamin D has an extremely beneficial effect in almost every field of medicine, while its deficiency can lead to the development of many diseases. In several skin diseases, a connection has been found between vitamin D deficiency and the onset or worsening of the disease – among others psoriasis, but also certain skin tumours. It is well known that without vitamin D bone loss develops, the structure of the bone changes and becomes deformed, and the risk of fractures increases. Vitamin D deficiency directly contributes to the development of heart failure, increases the risk of atherosclerosis and raises the chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Vitamin D plays a role in the development of a proper immune response and in the healthy development of the nervous system, and it has an anti-tumour effect at the cellular level.
It is also important to highlight two risk groups. One is the group of expectant mothers, as the risk of vitamin D deficiency increases during pregnancy. Ideally, vitamin D supplementation should begin already when planning a child and should be continued at least until delivery, since the vitamin D level of the foetus depends on the mother's intake. The other risk group is children. Because breast milk contains very little vitamin D, supplementation must begin in infancy – it is advisable to use the oil-based drops developed for babies for this purpose. Supplementation must not be stopped in early childhood either, as it is indispensable – together with calcium, of course – for the development of the maturing immune system, the nervous system and above all the skeleton, at least from autumn to spring. More recent research has also found a connection between type 1 diabetes and vitamin D deficiency in childhood.
Based on this, the recommended daily vitamin D doses for preventing vitamin D deficiency are as follows:
Infants: 400–1000 IU all year round
Children (1–6 years): 600–1000 IU all year round
Children (over 6 years): 600–1000 IU at least from autumn to spring
Adolescents: 800–1000 IU at least from autumn to spring
Adults: 1500–2000 IU at least from autumn to spring
Overweight adults: 3000–4000 IU at least from autumn to spring
Pregnant women: 1500–2000 IU at least from autumn to spring
Any vitamin D preparation can be used, but the most reliable content is found in products bought at the pharmacy. The most favourable price is achieved if you ask your family doctor to prescribe a prescription-only vitamin D preparation, so the monthly cost of vitamin D can be managed for a few hundred forints. It is worth mentioning that if you take a multivitamin, its vitamin D content is unlikely to reach the desirable level, so it is worth checking the content on the box.
Source: Hungarian consensus on the role of vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of diseases (Orvosi Hetilap, 29 May 2012)