Diet guru Dr Michael Mosley has revealed he’s committed to taking a daily Vitamin D supplement for life. At 66, the creator of the 5:2 and Fast 800 diets emphasised the importance of Vitamin D for older adults in maintaining cognitive health and reducing the risk of certain cancers.
Dr Mosley admitted he’s not usually a fan of supplements, believing a balanced diet should provide all necessary nutrients. Yet, with age, the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin D decreases, making supplementation more critical, he explained.
While previously only taking Vitamin D during the winter months, Dr Mosley has decided to make it a year-round habit. The NHS also recommends a daily Vitamin D pill, which is incredibly cost-effective at around £8.99 for a 400-pill supply, which works out at about 2p a day.
Dr Mosley shared that he doesn’t usually recommend supplements, but Vitamin D is an exception to this
(Image: Jody D’Arcy)
Writing in the Daily Mail, Dr Mosley shared: “I eat a lot of oily fish and eggs, both rich in vitamin D, and I also go outside for lots of walks, so my vitamin D levels should be well topped up. However, this year I am going to keep taking those supplements.
That’s partly because, surprise surprise, each year I get older and studies have shown that as we age our bodies become less effective at absorbing vitamin D from food and our skin also becomes less efficient at converting sunlight into this nutrient.”
“That, and the fact older people tend to spend more time indoors or in the shade, means that vitamin D deficiency is very common in the over 60s, even in the summer months, particularly if you have darker skin.”
Dr Michael Mosley has revealed that he’s started taking a daily Vitamin D supplement
(Image: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
Dr Mosley revealed that there’s a variety of advice regarding the dosage people should take, with the NHS recommending 10 micrograms (mcg) – or 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day. While the National Institutes of Health in the US suggests 15 mcg – and 20 mcg if you’re over 70.
He explained vitamin D’s best-known role has been to keep bones healthy by increasing the body’s absorption of calcium. He added: “In recent years, scientists have discovered that there are vitamin D receptors in nearly all our cells, suggesting that its usefulness extends far beyond the bones.”
“But there’s mounting evidence that to enjoy the benefits in these areas, such as preventing colon cancer and maintaining brain health, you need bigger doses than routinely recommended. For instance, when it comes to cancer, a very recent study, published in the journal Science, showed that one of the ways taking large doses of vitamin D might work is by boosting the sort of gut bacteria that are particularly good at preventing the growth of bowel cancers. “
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