Everyone in UK told to take 4p pill every day for five months

People across the UK are being advised to begin taking a daily supplement that is available for around 4p per tablet. Vitamin D works to control calcium and phosphate levels within the body, with these vital nutrients keeping bones, teeth and muscles at their best

Without enough vitamin D, children can develop bone deformities like rickets, whilst grown-ups may suffer bone pain from osteomalacia, also known as "soft bones". Between late March or early April through to the end of September, most people can enough sufficient vitamin D from sunshine alone.

But as there's less sunlight in the autumn and winter months, Government officials recommend everyone considers taking a daily Vitamin D pill from October, which begins on Wednesday. This guidance remains in place through to March.

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Those at higher risk of deficiency, including children aged one to four, and babies who are breastfed or consume less than 500ml of formula per day, need year-round supplements, according to the NHS.

Kids from age one upwards and adults require 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D daily. This includes pregnant and breastfeeding mums, and anyone at higher deficiency risk.

As well as sunlight, Vitamin D can be found in a small number of foods including oily fish, red meat, egg yolks and fortified breakfast cereals. However NHS advice states: "Since it's difficult for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter."

The Department of Health and Social Care advises that breastfed babies, or those on less than 500ml (roughly a pint) of formula milk daily, should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D all year round.