It sounds like a paradox: so much sunshine, and still so many women with low vitamin D. Yet it is one of the most common nutritional gaps in the Gulf. The good news is that it is easy to check and simple to address with your doctor.
In one line
Vitamin D contributes to normal immune function and to the maintenance of normal bones and muscle function. Our skin makes it in the sun, but modern life often means we make less than we need. A simple blood test tells you where you stand.
Why it is so common, even here
Vitamin D comes from three main sources: sunlight on the skin (UVB rays), food and supplements. Even in sunny countries like the Gulf, low vitamin D is common, because daily life limits sun on the skin: extreme heat, long days indoors, avoiding the midday sun, sunscreen and covering clothing. Few foods are rich in vitamin D, so food alone rarely fills the gap.
How to know
Low vitamin D often has no clear signs, or only vague ones like tiredness or aches that are easy to explain away. The only way to know is a blood test measuring 25 hydroxy vitamin D, which your doctor can order. If your level is low, your doctor will advise the right dose for you, which may be higher than a daily maintenance dose for a while.
Where vitamin D comes from
Sunlight on the skin, oily fish such as salmon and sardines, egg yolks, and foods fortified with vitamin D, such as some milks, juices and cereals. Vitamin D also contributes to normal blood levels of calcium and to the normal absorption of calcium and phosphorus, two minerals needed for normal bones.
Where we come in
GUUD Vitamin D is a vegan vitamin D3 from algae, taken as simple daily drops: 5 drops give about 2000 IU (50 µg) for adults. Our Women's ProMulti multivitamin also contains vitamin D3, and the Daily Wellness Kit brings the everyday basics together. If you combine products, add up the vitamin D and check the total with your doctor, and do not exceed the recommended daily amount. Everything is in our daily supplements collection.
Your questions
Is a little sun every day enough?
It helps, but how much the skin makes depends on the time of day, the season, how much skin is exposed and skin tone. A blood test is the only reliable answer.
D2 or D3?
Most supplements use vitamin D3, the same form our skin makes.
Can I take vitamin D during pregnancy?
Vitamin D is often part of pregnancy care, and it matters for you and for your baby's bone development. Your doctor will advise the right dose for you.
Written with care by Banat Nareng. It does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Sources: NHS, BMJ, Frontiers in Immunology (2019).
