Dr Sethi has shared the multiple reasons he takes a specific vitamin each day, including to reduce the risk of autoimmune problems
A doctor has shared the four reasons he takes one specific vitamin every single day. Dr Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist, shares his experience and knowledge with his 473,000 followers on TikTok (@doctorsethimd).
The doctor, who graduated from Harvard University has gone viral after sharing that he takes vitamin D each day for a number of reasons, including to reduce the risk of autoimmune problems, to help your body absorb calcium and to lift your mood. The recent clip was captioned: “4 Reasons I take Vitamin D Daily as a Gastroenterologist.”
In the video, Dr Sethi said: “Four reasons I take vitamin D daily as a gastroenterologist. First, vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, strengthening your bones and keeping them healthy. Second, it activates immune cells to fight off infections and reduces the risk of autoimmune problems.
“Third, it is known as the sunshine vitamin. Vitamin D helps lift your mood and fights off depression. And fourth, it supports your heart by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease.”
What does Vitamin D do?
According to the NHS, Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults. Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.
People at high risk of not getting enough vitamin D, all children aged 1 to 4, and all babies (unless they’re having more than 500ml of infant formula a day) should take a daily supplement throughout the year.
How much vitamin D do I need?
From about late March/early April to the end of September, the majority of people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight on their skin, according the the NHS. Children from the age of 1 year and adults need 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D a day. This includes pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Babies up to the age of 1 year need 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day. A microgram (mcg) is 1,000 times smaller than a milligram (mg). The word microgram is sometimes written with the Greek symbol μ followed by the letter g (μg).
Sometimes the amount of vitamin D is expressed as International Units (IU). 1 microgram of vitamin D is equal to 40 IU. So 10 micrograms of vitamin D is equal to 400 IU.
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