A leading doctor has urged all adults to begin taking a specific vitamin supplement after studies found that it can reduce the risk of dementia.
Taking vitamin D can boost your immune system and maintain healthy bones during the winter - but research found that it could also reduce your risk of dementia too.
A study conducted in France and published in News Medical Life Sciences found that those with vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L were almost three times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease - a debilitating form of dementia.
It was also found that over 60 per cent of the UK population falls below these levels for vitamin D in their system, as we get the majority of our vitamin D from natural sunlight - which is a rarity in the winter.
Another study was conducted earlier in 2023, which consisted of more than 12,000 individuals aged 70 and above that weren't diagnosed with any form of dementia.
The purpose of this research was to show that taking vitamin supplements can affect the development of the disease, as over a third of these participants had been taking a vitamin D tablet - and they experienced a 40 per cent decrease in the incidence of dementia.
Vitamin D expert Dr William Grant, advisor to the prevention charity foodforthebrain.org, has said that people are still underestimating the sheer impact of taking a small vitamin supplement each day.
He said: "All the evidence regarding cardiometabolic diseases, cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases and pregnancy outcomes shows that you need a blood level of vitamin D above 75 nmol/L to be healthy, and the same is proving true for the brain."
It is important to speak with your doctor before purchasing and taking any vitamin supplements, in case you have any underlying medical issues that could impact your health.
Top Health Stories Today
The NHS has encouraged everyone across the UK to implement a vitamin D supplement into their diet through the months of October until late March, in order to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
You can find sources of vitamin D in various foods too, such as:
- oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel
- red meat
- liver
- egg yolks
- fortified foods – such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals
You can get an 180-count of vitamin D tablets for £4 from Boots - which is a near six month supply for around two pence a tablet.
You can also get a months supply of vitamin D tablets from Red Label Health for just over £2 on Amazon.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.
