Less than one in fifty people are getting the amount of vitamin D their bodies’ need and the number of people showing signs of deficiency is growing.
Fresh research shows deficiency has swelled, with 98% of more than 1,000 people surveyed reporting at least three symptoms commonly linked to insufficient levels of vitamin D.
Of those likely to be deficient (five or more symptoms), only a quarter (28%) take a vitamin D supplement – highlighting a clear link between deficiency and supplementation.
Mental health symptoms have spiked, in those surveyed, with a 130% increase in depression and 65% rise inseasonal affective disorder (SAD) compared to when the same research was carried out three years ago.
And bone diseases, such as arthritis and osteoporosis are also on the rise, with a massive 154% increase.
These shocking figures come from our survey which was carried out in support of National Vitamin D Awareness Week, which aims to raise public awareness of the dangers of deficiency.
The findings confirm what we have long suspected, that our nation is far more deficient in vitamin D than we would care to admit.
98% of the 1027 people interview provided either classic symptoms of vitamin D deficiency of listed multiple lifestyle conditions which would predispose them to being deficient.
For example, 76% spend most of their daylight hours indoors. More than 40% use high factor suncream before entering the sun, and when people do venture outside, almost 60% cover up.