During the chilly winter months, it’s commonly recommended to take supplements to bolster one’s immune system. This advice is not only due to the prevalence of cold and flu viruses but also because of the reduced exposure to sunlight.
Yet, when spring and summer roll around, the sun supplies us with enough vitamin D. As a result, experts urge people to take supplements in winter to makeup for the lower levels of vitamin D. A groundbreaking study now suggests that year-round vitamin D supplementation could actually slow down the ageing process.
Published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the research indicates that individuals over 50 who took daily vitamin D supplements saw a decrease in DNA damage.
This type of DNA damage is associated with serious health issues like cancer and age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease. Remarkably, four years of consistent supplementation was found to prevent “the equivalent of nearly three years of ageing”.
Professor Martin Hewison from the University of Birmingham told the i: “This recent study shows something new – that daily vitamin D supplementation appears to slow biological ageing.
“This is one of the biggest randomised control trials on vitamin D supplementation, so it’s a dependable study.”
The findings of this study could have significant implications, especially as the NHS cautions against excessive intake of vitamin D.
The NHS cautions: “Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia).
“This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart. If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people. Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful.”
Professor Hewison echoes the NHS’s warning, admitting he consumes “50mcg per day, which is the dose that appears to slow ageing” but also acknowledges that “too much vitamin D can make you ill with high calcium levels”.
However, he countered: “These cases are rare and haven’t been reported for anyone taking less than 250mcg per day.”
Still, this is not a green light for the public to start piling on the vitamin D supplements; professional medical advice should always be sought first.
For those looking to boost their vitamin D levels naturally, the NHS has some suggestions, including dietary sources like oily fish, red meat, egg yolks, fortified foods and liver – although they warn against the consumption of liver for those who are pregnant.
