Why is vitamin D important?

Vitamin D is essential for our bodies. Not only is vitamin D necessary for children to develop strong bones and teeth, throughout our lives we need vitamin D to keep bones strong. Vitamin D allows us to absorb calcium and phosphorus from food. In addition, in both children and adults, vitamin D plays a role in proper muscle function and maintaining immunity.

WHERE DOES THE VITAMIN FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OURSELVES COME FROM?

A large part (about 90%) of our vitamin D is produced by our skin (under the influence of sunlight) itself. Vitamin D is therefore also called the sunshine vitamin. But 10% we get from food. What is vitamin D in? Few foods contain vitamin D. Fatty fish (herring, mackerel, salmon and sardines), organ meat (liver (pate)), some types of fish oil and egg yolks contain vitamin D.

So it depends on what you eat whether you get enough vitamin D, but especially on how much you are outside in the sun. In fact, sunlight is the most important way to build vitamin D. White Europeans all descended from hunter-gatherers in Africa. Africans ate differently and also spent much more time in the sun, also because it shines longer around the equator. As they migrated to the North, their skin lightened over time to still be able to make enough vitamin D.

This is exactly why people with tinted or dark skin need extra vitamin D. This is because the skin does not produce vitamin D as easily. While research published in the Dutch Journal of Medicine shows that 60% of all Dutch people could use extra vitamin D in winter.

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It is increasingly challenging to catch enough sunlight and make enough vitamin D with more kids playing indoors and office jobs or night shifts or by putting on too much sunscreen.

In addition, oily fish with their vitamin D are not immediately among children's favorites either, while fish sticks unfortunately contain hardly any vitamin D (and Omega-3).

From May through September, solar radiation is strong enough to produce enough vitamin D in the skin if you spend at least half an hour outside between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

During the months of October through April, the sun's radiation is not strong enough and you may need a supplement. Sunscreen blocks the absorption of UV radiation.

It may be wise to first spend 30 minutes in the sun without sunscreen.

In fact, seniors 70 and older should take 20 mcg of vitamin D daily.

It is increasingly challenging to catch enough sunlight and make enough vitamin D with more kids playing indoors and office jobs.

In addition, oily fish with their vitamin D are not immediately among children's favorites either, while fish sticks unfortunately contain hardly any vitamin D (and Omega-3).

The older you get, the less able you are to make your own vitamin D due to thinner skin. 

VITAMIN D IN ARCTIC BLUE PRODUCTS

A number of Arctic Blue products, in addition to the standard Omega-3 fatty acids, also contain added vitamin D. We believe this is important because many people have an increased need for vitamin D, namely children, adolescents, the elderly and adults who do not get outside much, or have tinted or dark skin.

The combination Omega-3 and vitamin D is a very logical one because vitamin D is fat soluble and is optimally absorbed in a fatty stomach. Taking it during or after a meal is therefore the recommendation.

The daily dosage is always according to the Nutrition Center's table below, which is 10 mcg.

We always use the of the of the best absorbable form of vitamin D, namely D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D is optimally absorbed by the intestines when some fat or oil is also present. Because the vitamin D is in Arctic Blue products (omega-3 oil) and it is taken during or after a meal, the vitamin D is also optimally absorbed by the body.

Check out fish oil specifically for children.

Too much vitamin D
In practice, too much vitamin D in healthy people actually never occurs. It can only occur when a person takes more than 100 mcg per day for a long period of time. So that's 10x the daily dosage in Arctic Blue products.

Even sitting in the sun a lot does not risk excess vitamin D, as the skin regulates its production.

When vitamin D status is determined to be too low (below 80 nml/l) by a general practitioner or therapist, it may be necessary to take higher (than 10 mcg per day) doses daily for several months.

In some cases, a general practitioner may even recommend vitamin D injections. An optimal vitamin D status is between 80 and 150 nml/l.