Your vitamin D can go down even in summer

Many people do not know that their levels of Vitamin d They can be low even in summerpoints out the specialist in Internal Medicine and E-Health Medical Manager of CIGNA Healthcare Spain, Daniela Silva.

The expert recommends to take advantage of the long summer days for the sun exposure “Responsible”, privileging the early hours of the day or the end of the afternoon and avoiding long exhibitions between the 12 and 5pm. In addition, it underlines the importance of considering age and the presence of certain Pathologies. “Therefore, it is convenient to adopt a Personalized approachbased on medical prevention and evaluation, “he adds.

Although in summer the incidence of the sun usually increases, maintain adequate levels of This vitamin “You can be committed to multiple factors,” says Silva. Among the most relevant are the skin agingthe Malabsorption syndromes and excessive use of sun protection. Also, people with darker skin They have more difficulty to synthesize it: the more pigmented the skin is, the lower the ability to produce Vitamin d from solar radiation.

The obesity or an excess of Fat tissue They also make it difficult to maintain correct blood, explains the specialist; This occurs because Vitamin D is fat -solubleaccumulates in fat and its blood concentration is reduced by distributing in more body tissue.

In addition, high consumption of alcohol and certain pharmacological treatments, such as antiepileptics, glucocorticoids either immunosuppressants, They can interfere in intestinal absorption and metabolism of vitamin D.

The Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) warns that sufficient lack of this vitamin can lead to the body extracting the calcium necessary of their bone reserves, favoring the demineralization. Therefore, low levels of vitamin D could be associated with a higher risk of problems such as osteoporosisdiseases Cardiovasculardisorders Metabolic or alterations of Immune system.

According to data from the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (Seen), approximately one 40% of the Spanish population has deficit of Vitamin dwith special prevalence in the elderly.

Expert advice to prevent vitamin D deficiency

To prevent the deficit, the specialists of Healthcare crap They advise one Brief and regular sun exposurepreferably at times of lower intensitysince this could favor the Cutaneous synthesis without increasing the risk of sun damage. Simple activities like walkride in bicycle or exercise outdoors in these intervals help obtain useful radiation safely. However, they remember that photoprotection is “very important” to avoid dermal lesions.

In the diet it should be included Natural sources of vitamin D: fatty fish (for example, salmon either mackerel), eggs, mushrooms exposed to UV and enriched dairy They can help improve intake. Even so, generally the amount provided only by food “is not enough” to meet daily needs.

Excess and frequent consumption of alcohol They can interfere with the absorption and metabolism of vitamin D, decreasing its effectiveness and, therefore, affecting the Bone and muscle health. Moderating alcohol intake contributes, therefore, to a better use of vitamin and prevent problems such as Bone fragility or the Fallsespecially in people at risk.

The supplementation With vitamin D it can be adequate when there is a Diagnosed deficitbut it is not exempt from risks if administered without control. Vitamin D participates in multiple bodily functions and excessive levels can cause an increase in serum calcium and the appearance of deposits in organs such as kidneys, heart either lungs.

Finally, experts insist that people older or with Chronic pathologies They must undergo Periodic medical controlssince its ability to synthesize vitamin D decreases. Maintaining good digestive health is also key to guaranteeing proper absorption. In healthy adults, in addition to healthy habits, it is convenient to monitor factors such as stress or certain medical treatments that can condition the metabolism of vitamin D.