There's been much media speculation and sensationalization around vitamin D and Covid-19 but it's important to remember advice should be evidence based.

Vitamin D is essential for good health and low status may be exacerbated during Covid-19 due to increased time spent indoors. A 2018 study identified almost 20% of UK adults have low levels of vit D. In particular, 39% of 11-18 year old girls were deficient. Updated PHE advice in April 2020 advises 10mcg daily even through summer months. People at high risk of vit D deficiency are people whom are frail or housebound and where clothing covers most of skin when outdoors. BUT vit D is just a small part of good health.

My guest today is Pf Susan Lanham-New and she's one very busy lady – hugely in demand with her extensive knowledge of vitamin D. Sue has written over 235 publications, is a lecturer on the MSc Nutritional Medicine course which I am close to completing, and is also Head of the Nutrition Science Dept at University of Surrey.

Questions

1. Is vit D necessary?
2. Can we obtain all the vitamin D we need from the sun?
3. Can vegans rely on D2?
4. Is 400IU/10mcg enough?
5. Side-effects of high doses?
6. Aside from immunity, why else is vitamin D important e.g. cancer, rickets, osteomalacia?

About Susan

Professor Susan Lanham-New is head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Surrey and is a registered Public Health Nutritionist (RPHNutr). She completed her BSc in Exercise Physiology at the University of Chicester and her MSc in Human Nutrition and Metabolism and PhD in Nutrition and Bone at University of Aberdeen. As a PhD student, Sue was awarded a PhD Scholarship by the Nutritional Consultative Panel, and has three times won the Young Investigator Award at the World Osteoporosis Conference, at the National Osteoporosis Society Conference, and at the Joint Meeting of ECTS and IBMS. Currently, Professor Lanham-New's research focusses on the nutritional aspects of bone health, including specific projects such Interaction between diet and sunlight exposure on vitamin D status in Caucasian and Asian women (D-FINES) study, Extent of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabian women and boys and girls, Impact of veiling on Vitamin D status in Kuwait adolescent girls: impact on bone mass and Protein and bone health: systematic review and meta-analysis. Professor Lanham-New is a member of the Academic Assembly Policy Committee, an Editor-in-Chief of the Nutrition Society Textbook Series and a member of NS Publications Committee.