2024-07-07 04:24:00
Dr Martin Ducret, Journalist doctor daily Today we’re back to integrating some concepts related to our body’s need for vitamin D.
franceinfo: First of all, what is vitamin D used for?
Martin Ducret: This vitamin is essential for bone health, good growth and bone strength. Vitamin D also plays an important role in the immune system, muscle tone, and cardiovascular system.
80% of vitamin D is produced through solar radiation hitting our skin during the hot months of April to October, and this is what UVB (a type of ultraviolet ray) does. The remaining 20% comes from food and can be found in the famous cod liver oil, fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and even egg yolks and cream. You should know that almost half of the French population is vitamin D deficient because they don’t get enough sunlight during the hot months.
20 minutes of sunshine every day is necessary to replenish adequate vitamin D! “In addition, some people are particularly susceptible to vitamin D deficiency and must supplement vitamin D year-round. Biologist and vitamin D expert Jean-Claude Souberbielle explains to me.
This is the case for people who don’t spend time in the sun, people who are overweight, people with dark skin, people over 65 years old, and even people with chronic diseases like diabetes or diabetic hypertension. In addition to these people, it is also recommended that children, pregnant women, and postmenopausal women take vitamin D supplements systematically throughout their growth.
What are the consequences of vitamin D deficiency?
If the deficiency is severe, bone mineralization is impaired and the bones become deformed; this is called rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. In cases of moderate deficiency (the most common condition), numerous studies show that supplementing with vitamin D can at least reduce the risk of lung infections, cancer mortality, and even related fractures. On the other hand, taking vitamin D when supplies are adequate has not been shown to have any beneficial effects on health.
I would like to point out that blood tests are not a systematic test necessary to detect vitamin D deficiency, and since 2013, Social Security no longer reimburses blood tests except in very special circumstances. Therefore, your doctor should assess whether you are at risk for vitamin D deficiency and prescribe vitamin D based on your situation.
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