Vitamin D (NLOSS)

Patient Information Factsheet

North London Obesity Surgery Service (NLOSS)

What does vitamin D do?

• Vitamin D sends messages that help your body absorb calcium from food.
• The calcium is used to build strong bones.
• Vitamin D comes from food and is also made in your skin when you are in sunlight.
• It is also important for immunity, growth and development, and communication between some types of cells.

What happens if my vitamin D is low/if I do not get enough vitamin D?

• If you do not have enough vitamin D, you can develop a condition called osteomalacia.
• Often this is a "silent condition," which means you may not notice any symptoms.
• When you have osteomalacia, your bones become soft and weak.
• You may get weak muscles, or bone pain (especially in your hips and back).
• If you do not have enough vitamin D for a long time, it can make your bones weak and may cause permanent problems with bone strength.
• Serious problems may also develop with the nervous system and immune system.

What are other symptoms?

• Muscle tics, twitches or spasms (especially in the face)
• Unexplained fracture
• Seizure
• Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Loss of balance, increased falling
• Heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Breast, prostate, colon cancers

Where can I get vitamin D?

• Humans make vitamin D in our skin in response to sun exposure.
• One way to get vitamin D is from sunlight.
• People can make sufficient vitamin D by going out for short periods and leaving only areas of skin that are often exposed uncovered (such as forearms, hands or lower legs). Longer periods may be needed for those with darker skin.
• However, it is important to protect your skin from the sun: a brief exposure to sunlight without sunscreen or with low factor sunscreen may be beneficial for vitamin D purposes, but prolonged sun exposure carries a risk and you should wear higher protection sunscreen.
• Sunscreen with high protection (above SPF 8) blocks almost all vitamin D from being made in your skin. Very strong sunscreen can stop your body making vitamin D from the sun.
• Good food sources of vitamin D include oily fish, dairy products, soy products with added vitamin D, eggs, and liver.
• If you do not have enough vitamin D, your Doctor may suggest taking a vitamin D supplement as well as getting it from food and sunlight.
• If you are taking a vitamin D supplement, it is also important to make sure that you have enough calcium in your diet.

Other important things

• Because vitamin D is stored in body fat, taking too much or taking it for a long time can cause side effects or harm.
• Because of this, you should not take a high dose of vitamin D by yourself unless your Doctor tells you to.
• If your Doctor gives you a high dose of vitamin D, it is very important to take it exactly as told.
• You must also do any blood tests they ask for, to check it is working safely.

Further information

Please visit the NHS website www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/others/

Contact our service

Should you need more information, please contact our Specialist Bariatric Dietitians on 0207 288 5989, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.