Dark-skinned people living in the UK, do you experience Vitamin D deficiency?
Posted by JoTheMartian@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 37 comments
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PurpleOctopus6789@reddit
oh, you sound just peachy.
completely normal.
standard advice. This does not mean they think you're a shut-in. That's your own assumption and assigning malice when there's none. If someone works 9-5 in winter, it is really easy to not get enough sun without being a shut in. Going out simply means, prioritising going for a walk on a sunny Saturday, etc.
They don't know that unless you tell them that. If the advice is something you are already do, speak up so they can reasses.
that's because a lot of people here have this deficiency.
speak up for yourself. When in doubt, it's perfectly fine to question advice you are being given.
That's not unpleasant experience, that's you relying solely on your GP to be a mind reader and know everything about your lifestyle and history without bothering to speak up.
StGuthlac2025@reddit
" They did not prescribe any supplements, told me to get some OTC" thas because the supplements are rather cheap and cheaper for you and the NHS for you to provide your own
JoTheMartian@reddit (OP)
Unfortunately my vitamin deficiency has only been resolved from strong prescription-only supplements. I agree that usually it would be better for the patient to not have to pay the NHS prescription fee. But I wish the doctor had a look at my history, it wasn't the first time vit D deficiency appeared on my results despite taking OTC supplements. Also I guess my view is skewed as I don't pay for prescriptions due to other health issues.
PurpleOctopus6789@reddit
You do know that you can speak up, right? Mentioning that to your GP and bringing their attention to it is a huge part of being your own advocate. Patients shouldn't just rely on GP to know everything. Speak up. Saying, 'i've been taking supplements before and still had deficiency' goes a long way of getting their attention and taking a second look.
Banes_Addiction@reddit
When I was prescribed them I was given 15000 IU pills which is a lot more than is a regular OTC dose.
I now take 3000 IU capsules.
The RDA is 600-800, but for various reasons that doesn't work for everyone.
Mediocre-Spell-6090@reddit
My GP prescribed me 50,000 IU Vit. D when my levels were very low. One to be taken per week for three months. You don't usually find them OTC.
ChelseaMourning@reddit
This. A prescription is now £9.80 per medication. A simple supplement is 1/3 of that. GPs will often tell you to buy OTC if it’s cheaper and doesn’t require a prescription. The only time I’ve had something OTC prescribed is when I was pregnant and my prescriptions were free. They gave me the biggest fuck off bottle of gaviscon you could get.
AwkwardTie9427@reddit
Vitamin D deficiency can affect all nationalities of various skin pigmentation living in the UK.
solo1024@reddit
I haven’t got dark skin (I’m Celtic white, which is a few shades whiter than brilliant white) I had no idea that this was a thing! You have given me a rabbit hole to go down to learn more about this so I thank you for the new interesting thing to learn about!
EvilInCider@reddit
Also whiter than white here.
My levels are slightly raised with the “Celtic Disease” (too much iron in my blood).
I often show as having the same Vitamin D deficiency as OP, and also a chronic folate deficiency which is another Celtic issue - if you have Irish roots you can very much be at risk for this - up to one in 7 adults are affected. Nothing to do with what I eat (healthy diet, exercise regularly. I even get quite a bit of sunlight). My Irish husband has the same folate issue.
Vitamin D deficiency is common in the UK and Ireland. They just make you have OTC supplements then don’t really bother to test you again until it comes up in another random test for something else. I’ve even read that every British adult should take some form of Vitamin D supplement over the winter months regardless.
The folate one is the most annoying to manage as you can’t easily buy folate supplements that are not for pregnant ladies (often with a bunch of other stuff). Asking pharmacists just baffles them. Asking for folate supplements for my husband is even funnier
Bring it back to the OP, telling OP that a Vitamin D deficiency has anything to do with them being brown is quite laughable. We’re all in the same position of simply living on an island that doesn’t see the sun enough. And we’re likely all rattling around deficient in something, no matter our skin colour.
Mediocre-Spell-6090@reddit
This is very informative. My partner is one of the paler than pale Irish and his dad has hemochromatosis. I'm poc so I always load up on my vitamin Ds and folates. I didn't know Irish people could be folate deficient.
Otherwise-Plane8282@reddit
According to Billy Connelly Celt’s are pale blue and need fake tan to get to a normal skin colour 😆
Tacklestiffener@reddit
"Two weeks in the sun to go white"
ChelseaMourning@reddit
I’m Irish and Scottish with a little bit of French. I’m bored of all the pale jokes now. Haha yes, I look like a ghost.
FloydEGag@reddit
I’m super, super pale so supposedly well-adapted to absorb Vitamin D from our weak northern sunlight (that’s the theory as to why lighter skin evolved). I still have a deficiency though. Anyone who’s indoors a lot (so most of us), covers up a lot (including using lots of sunscreen!), has darker skin or lives in the higher latitudes like the north of Scotland is more likely to have a deficiency. They should just put it in the water haha
Fuzzy_Cantaloupe6353@reddit
Most People in the UK have vit. D deficiencies regardless of background and over the counter is cheaper than prescriptions.
The attitude was probably just a them thing some drs are quite blunt.
Tacklestiffener@reddit
It's an odd thing though. I live in Spain and we have 300+ days of sun a year. My neighbour, English, is outside all day doing stuff and is out with his dogs at least 2 hours a day. He's just been diagnosed with a VitD deficiency.
Fuzzy_Cantaloupe6353@reddit
There's other factors too not just being outside.
thecatsothermother@reddit
This is true, I also was told I was vutamin D deficient. I take a multivitamin and iron supplement I picked up at Boots. I'm also not a shut-in, and have pale skin (Scots mother and I freckle.) So I don see the GP casting aspersions on how often you go out. Our climate just isn't conducive to getting all our Vitamin D from sunlight.
If you want, you could politely point out to the GP next time you see them that she felt your dark skin was not taken into consideration.
EvilInCider@reddit
One thing for the OP - it’s actually significantly cheaper for you to buy the supplements yourself. Around £2.50.
And here’s a tip for you - don’t pick the ones up from the shelf. Certainly in Tesco pharmacy anyway, they keep the really cheap ones behind the counter.
Just go up and tell them the issue, and you should walk away with something very cheap that will last you a couple of months. Far better than paying a tenner or whatever the prescription cost is nowadays.
HoundParty3218@reddit
Your GP sounds like an ass. Ignore their bad attitude and make sure you get a follow up appointment as supplements don't always work and osteoporosis is no joke.
BTW my family is very white, very outdoorsy and we eat healthy food but all the women are vitamin D deficient. I take supplements with my morning latte and all my older female relatives have had transfusions.
Cakeo@reddit
It is not common at all that supplements won't work and if op hasn't even tried them why are you encouraging them to waste NHS time?
Just suck it up, the doctor was rude but they aren't there to baby you
Sage-Freke-@reddit
The theory is that when people migrated to northern latitudes, lighter skin tones were naturally selected due to this. However, as we all spend a lot of time indoors now, even people with paler skin are vitamin D deficient, but it’s even worse for people with darker skin.
BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit
I do have to say that I think you’re making a criticism where it’s not necessarily warranted.
People of all skin colours are vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency in the British Isles, particularly in the Winter months.
My Grandmother is a retired pharmacist and British Indian and so quite up on the mark when it comes to just about everything relating to skin tone and skincare etc.
Common sense must prevail when it comes to basic self care and nourishment, we can’t be held by the hand with absolutely everything.
OnlymyOP@reddit
Almost everyone in the UK is deficient in vitamin D especially after Winter and Doctors simply won't prescribe supplements if they're readily available over the counter.
With reference to the comments over your skin colour, race is a highly charged issue so should your GP mentioned something.... probably, but they may not have wanted to run the risk of being accused of racism.
ChasZee@reddit
I was prescribed vitamin D only when mine was dangerously low, had to take a tablet once/twice a week for 8 weeks then sorted myself out with supplements once stablised.
Puzzled-Barnacle-200@reddit
If you would be paying for a prescription and your deficiency is reasonably mild, buying OTC supplements would be beneficial compared to prescription.
It is a shame the doctor didn't talk about your increased liklihood of deficiency, however I do think many will be uncomfortable brining race into health conversations. The NHS advises all people in the UK to take vitamin D supplements from October-March, and people with darker skin tones should take supplements annually (also children should have supplements, alongside women who are pregnant or trying to conceive).
I (white) have also experience ld a vitamin d deficiency. It's pretty horrible. I've since been proactive in raking vitamin d daily in the darker months and twice a week in the lighter months, which has helped me to avoid a repeat of symptoms.
Cakeo@reddit
"A doctor told me how to fix my problem but they were rude"
This is going be the top post on reddit mark my words.
Seriously though I can't see the issue. Go outside, take supplements. Why waste time asking about how much time you spend outside, they know the problem and gave you the solutions. Being blunt isnt great but youre not going to the doctor for great customer service.
Usual-Sound-2962@reddit
GPs in the UK very rarely join the dots for you, you usually have to do some investigative work and present this to them alongside your symptoms to get anywhere.
Your bloods showed low vitamin D, this is a relatively cheap problem to solve over the counter (cheaper than a prescription) as far as the GP is concerned - job done.
You’re then left with the information and if you want to find out more you largely have to do that yourself.
My Mam suffers with agoraphobia and has had similar things said to her by her GPs. What often happens is when they ring to discuss blood test results they usually just have those results in front of them and some brief info from your last few appointments, they’re not necessarily going to have your whole medical picture right there and then.
Available-Nose-5666@reddit
Yes 🙋🏼♀️ every blood test I’ve had over the years always come back with Vitamjn D deficiency.
Also, unfortunately, the GP doesn’t prescribe anything they advise you to buy over the counter, unless your levels were dangerously low.
Funmachine@reddit
The stuff you buy over the counter is going to be the same as, and cost less, than a prescription.
PsychologicalRun1911@reddit
It is 100% a thing and when I was living in Canada I would tell any new immigrants who were darker skinned (which in Canada is basically people from India) I made friends with to take vitamin D outside of summer.
In UK people are scared to death of being called racist to the point they struggle to publicly acknowledge different races exist. It's quite unique culturally and haven't seen it in any other countries I've lived and travelled.
There is some validity to what your doctor said to you though in the sense that we actually have no real decent data out there showing that vitamin D supplements raising your vitamin D levels actually improves your health outcomes the same way that having that higher vitamin D level does naturally. It sounds like a logical conclusion... But for example we now know that taking omega 3 supplements DOES NOT improve your health outcomes the same way consuming fish or other foods that raise your omega 3 levels would for example. Probably other examples but that's the one I like to point to.
ecasun@reddit
Yep the 2D’s - Diabetes and Vitamin D! Very prevalent in South Asian and Black. When I found out that I was 5x more likely to get diabetes as an Asian person I was shocked. Vitamin D is very important for everyone but more for those who are darker skinned, take the max dose!
scream_schleam@reddit
Actually there is evidence that melanin in skin prevents the synthesis of vitamin D in response to sunlight. I am brown and take supplements all year long. Many of my friends and family back home in the tropics are deficient.
ToriaLyons@reddit
In the UK, up to 50% of people are Vitamin D deficient. This greatly increases for anyone with darker skin.
Most people should already be supplementing as deficiency contributes to so many health conditions.
We actually need public information films about this kind of shit.
HarissaPorkMeatballs@reddit
It's recommended that we all take vitamin D supplements during the autumn and winter.
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