Introduction
In most of the developed countries, there has been arising questions concerning Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is mainly caused by lack of exposure to sunlight and a poor diet. Currently, and according to studies, there is no sufficient or optimal level known for Vitamin D. Lack of knowledge is causing uncertainty in the world. There are few people that understand the necessity of having Vitamin D supplement, while few have knowledge of the people that should use supplements (Consensus Vitamin D position statement, 2010). Despite the lack of sufficient information about Vitamin D supplements, there is the fear of adverse effects caused by an overdose of supplements. On the other hand, individuals do not know the methods or procedures to use so that they can quantify the level of the vitamin in their body. It is for these reasons that there has been a rise in the number of individuals using Vitamin D supplements. Contrary to this trend, research indicates that only individuals in danger of Vitamin D deficiency should use the supplements upon getting the prescription from a physician.
There are various groups of people that should use Vitamin D supplements because of the risk of deficiency. These individuals include;
- People that cannot increase their sunlight exposure
- People who have no access to foods that are rich in Vitamin D.
Diagnosis and prescription
Testing is not necessary given that it is expensive. This means that, for individuals suspected of Vitamin D deficiency, physicians should prescribe Vitamin D supplements. These supplements should be prescribed immediately the deficiency has been suspected both in children and adults.
The people who risk vitamin D deficiency include;
- Old people who are not able to move out of the house so as to get sunlight.
- Veiled people because they are covered all over the body.
- People with dark skins and have little exposure to sunlight.
- Infants whose mothers have vitamin D deficiency have a risk of suffering from vitamin D deficiency too.
All these people mentioned above are at high risk of Vitamin D deficiency since they lack sunlight and are advised to use vitamin D supplements. They should be advised by a physician.
Management
Vitamin D deficiency can be managed by all individuals getting access to sunlight. Those already with the deficiency should seek medical attention and advice on how to handle it. Vitamin D can also be found in oily fish, eggs and fortified break- fast cereals and thus individuals with these deficiency can add these foods to their diet
Treatment products on NHS
Despite there being a necessity of using Vitamin D supplements, there are products that are available on NHS list. Through Chief Medical Officer, NHS recommends a number of products that are healthy to those that will ingest them. There are many Vitamin D products available on the NHS list (Zaidi, 2010). NHS places these products in groups according to their use and the people using them. These groups are;
- Products suitable for pregnant women, which are Healthy Start and Pregcare (Clifford, 2011).
- Products suitable for children which are Healthy Start and Abidec multivitamins.
- Products for individuals above the age of 65 (elderly people), NHS recommends Accrete D3, Adcal D3, Calceos, Calcium D3, Natecal D3, and Sandocal D 600 tablets.
- Products suitable for individuals seeking to increase their level of vitamin D both adults and children, the chief medical officer recommends D Lux 400 spray and Colecalciferol liquid.
There are various categories of people that should use vitamin D supplements. There are various reasons for the necessity of using vitamin D supplements, but they all result to the risk of deficiency.
Treatment of Vitamin D deficiency with symptoms
Summary
- In accordance to NHS, medical doctors should prescribe vitamin D tablets to those individuals that have a risk of deficiency (Adams, 2011). This is the knowledge that guides NHS in giving a list of products that are healthy to individuals. The chief medical officer recommends a number of products.
- Vitamin D is mainly caused by lack of exposure to sunlight and a poor diet and thus can be manageable by exposure to sunlight and talking a balanced diet
- Products are in groups that acknowledge their application. There are products that are suitable to pregnant women, children, elderly people, and the general population.
- Despite the lack of the optimal level vitamin D, individuals suspected of deficiency should use supplements that are on NHS list (Committee to review diet, 2011).
Conclusion
There is a necessity of people to use Vitamin D supplement because they are important to their health. Lack of knowledge on how to use the supplements might cause adverse effects on an individual’s body and so people should seek physician’s advice on how to use the supplements. Vitamin D supplements are provided in groups, those for children, the elderly and those who wish to increase their Vitamin D levels. Products that are advisable to be used by individuals with Vitamin D deficiency are those listed by the NHS.
References
Adams J. Vitamin D, London: Academic Press; 2011.
Clifford R.Vitamin D insufficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 2011; 364:248-54.
Consensus Vitamin D position statement; 2010, (Accessed, October 2012).
Retrieved from:
Committee to review diet. Dietary reference intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D, Washington: National Academies Press; 2011.
Zaidi S. Vitamin D supplements, California: SAGE; 2010
