HSE Urges Vitamin D for All in Ireland as 29% of Young Adults Turn Deficient
Updated
Updated · The Irish Times · Oct 27
HSE Urges Vitamin D for All in Ireland as 29% of Young Adults Turn Deficient
1 articles · Updated · The Irish Times · Oct 27
Summary
Ireland’s health service is advising everyone to take vitamin D supplements as winter approaches, saying sunlight from October to March is too weak at the country’s latitude to maintain adequate levels.
29% of people aged 18 to 30 and 1 in 5 over-50s are deficient in winter and spring; half of those over 85 and 1 in 8 over-50s are deficient year-round.
Daily doses range from 5 micrograms for some infants to 15 micrograms for adults 65 and older, while babies, pregnant people, those with black or brown skin, and people rarely outdoors are told to supplement all year.
The advice reflects concern over harms from low vitamin D—including rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults—while food sources alone are usually too limited to meet needs.
HSE also warned against exceeding recommended amounts, saying too much vitamin D can damage bones, kidneys and the heart through calcium build-up.