Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that helps keep bones, muscles and teeth healthy.
Studies suggest taking the supplement could ward off colds and flu, however, there is no evidence it protects against the coronavirus.
Unfortunately, the cloudy grey days Britons are forced to endure between October and March mean nobody gets sufficient levels of vitamin D from the sun alone.
Generally speaking, most people get their vitamin D quota from the sun during spring and summer.
A supplement therefore becomes more “optional” in the warmer months.
With the coronavirus lockdown, however, PHE has urged people to consider taking the vitamin despite the sunshine.
“Vitamin D is essential for immunity and many studies show it helps to protect against respiratory infections, including the common cold, flu and pneumonia,” Dr Sarah Brew medical director of Healthspan told Yahoo UK.
“With the continuing lockdown, we are all more prone to low vitamin D levels from being confined indoors.”
PHE has urged people not to stockpile the supplement amid the coronavirus pandemic.
How much vitamin D do I need?
Adults and children over one-year-old require 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day.
The same goes for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and people at risk of vitamin D deficiency, like those who are housebound.
One microgram is 1,000 times less than a milligram. Ten micrograms is often written as 10μg.
Babies under one need between 8.5μg and 10μg of vitamin D a day.
The Department of Health and Social Care recommends breastfed babies be given a supplement via liquid drops.
Formula milk is fortified with the nutrient, therefore babies fed this way should not be given vitamin D until they are having less than 500ml a day.
Foods that contain vitamin D – like oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks and fortified cereals or spreads – also help you stay topped up, however, it is difficult to get sufficient levels from diet alone.
