We need #VitaminD to help the body absorb #calcium and #phosphate from our diet. These minerals a…

We need #VitaminD to help the body absorb #calcium and #phosphate from our diet. These minerals are important for healthy #bones, #teeth and #muscles.

A lack of vitamin D, known as vitamin D deficiency, can cause bones to become soft and weak, which can lead to bone deformities.

In children, for example, a lack of vitamin D can lead to #rickets. In adults, it can lead to #osteomalacia, which causes bone pain and tenderness.

Our body creates vitamin D from direct #sunlight on our skin when we're outdoors. Get some Sunshine daily to get your daily dose of Vitamin D.

We also get some vitamin D from a small number of foods, including oily #fish such as #salmon, #mackerel, #herring and #sardines, as well as #redmeat and #eggs.

Most people can make enough vitamin D from being out in the sun daily for short periods with their forearms, hands or lower legs uncovered and without sunscreen from late March or early April to the end of September, especially from 11am to 3pm.

It's not known exactly how much time is needed in the sun to make enough vitamin D to meet the body's requirements.