Positive Health Online

Hessian Minister President Boris Rhein presents the Broermann Medical Innovation Award

Dr Carl June and Dr. Michel Sadelain have been honoured for groundbreaking  CAR-T cell research in cancer therapy – One of the world's most highly endowed medical prizes, with EUR1 million in prize money, awarded for the first time – Titia große Broermann: "With the Broermann Medical Innovation Award, we want to make outstanding medical achievements visible – and honour those who, with courage, vision, and humanity, are shaping the  medicine of tomorrow."

At a festive ceremony in the Hessian State Chancellery, Dr Carl June (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr Michel Sadelain (Columbia  University) were presented with the inaugural Broermann Medical Innovation Award by Minister President Boris Rhein.

With a EUR1 million endowment, the Broermann Award ranks among the world's most prestigious medical honours. Founded by Dr Bernard große Broermann , the visionary founder of the Asklepios Group , the award recognizes the pioneering achievements of the two scientists in developing CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of cancer.

In the presence of numerous representatives from science, politics,  and society, Minister President Rhein honoured the work of the award winners and their contribution to the treatment of cancer patients worldwide:

"With their work, Dr Carl June and Dr Michel Sadelain demonstrate the immense power that knowledge and passion can unleash. They have the potential to positively impact countless lives." The head of government presented the Broermann Prize, worth a total of one million euros - one of the world's most highly endowed awards of its kind praising their "groundbreaking work," saying: "Dr. Carl June and Dr. Michel Sadelain show that knowledge can change lives and give people new hope for healing."

He further emphasized "The two prize-winners are inspiring role models through their attitude and dedication. With their insight that the immune system itself can become a weapon against cancer, they have opened a new chapter in cancer therapy."

Prof Dr. Werner Seeger, Chair of the Broermann Award Jury, emphasized:

"Today's award ceremony marks a milestone for medical science. Dr  Carl June and Dr Michel Sadelain have fundamentally transformed cancer treatment through their work on CAR-T cell therapy. Their dedication and pioneering spirit embody the very essence of medical innovation that this award celebrates."

Dr Michel Sadelain , Director of the Columbia Initiative in Cell Engineering and Therapy (CICET) , accepted the award on behalf of himself and his colleague Dr Carl June , Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy at the University of Pennsylvania.

"It is a great honour to receive this recognition together with my colleague Carl June," said Dr Sadelain. "We are delighted that our decades of work on CAR-T cell therapy are being recognized internationally. This award is both validation and inspiration to continue advancing our research and developing new treatment options for patients with life-threatening diseases. It is a tremendous motivation for our teams and a resolute dedication to bringing better therapies for patients worldwide."

Titia Olivia große Broermann , shareholder of the Asklepios Kliniken Group, added:

"For me, this award is more than recognition of scientific excellence –- it is a living legacy of my husband's vision. Bernard große Broermann believed that health should not be left to fate but can be shaped through innovation and care. Today, scientists like Michel Sadelain and Carl June have made this conviction a reality. Their groundbreaking research has transformed medicine and given countless cancer patients new hope - and, in many cases, a new life. For that, we owe them deep gratitude and great respect."

About the Research

Dr Carl June and Dr Michel Sadelain were honoured for their pioneering role in the genetic engineering of T cells to specifically target and destroy cancer cells. Using chimeric antigen receptors  (CARs) , these modified immune cells can identify cancer cells and eliminate them. CAR-T cell therapies have achieved remarkable success in treating leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, opening an entirely new chapter in cancer therapy.

About the Laureates

Dr Carl June (born 1950, Denver, USA) received his MD from the Baylor College of Medicine, his Ph.D. from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center , and founded the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies (CCI) at the University of Pennsylvania in 1999. He currently holds the Richard W Vague Professorship in Immunotherapy .

Dr Michel Sadelain (born 1960, Paris, France) earned his MD. from the University of Paris in 1984 and his PhD from the University of Alberta in 1989. After postdoctoral research at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (MIT) , he joined the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York in 1994. He now leads the Columbia Initiative in Cell Engineering and Therapy (CICET) , founded in 2024.

About the Broermann Medical Innovation Award

The Broermann Medical Innovation Award was established in 2024 by Dr Bernard große Broermann , founder of the Asklepios Kliniken . Guided by his vision to create a healthcare organization that delivers real benefit to patients through innovation, Asklepios became a pioneer in medical technology and digital healthcare solutions. The award continues his legacy, honouring those whose groundbreaking work improves lives and shapes the future of medicine.

Call for Nominations  – 2026 Award

The nomination phase for the Broermann Medical Innovation Award 2026 is now open. Nominations of scientists who have made pioneering contributions to medicine, biotechnology, or related disciplines are welcome until March 1, 2026 . Further details on eligibility and selection criteria are available on the award's official website. Pictures from the award ceremony will be available shortly after the event at the following website:

https://www.broermann-award.org/press/

Contact:

Broermann Medical Innovation Award

Contact: Corinna Larsen

Tel.: +49 (0) 641 / 985-42302

E-mail: mailto:contact@broermann-award.org

Visit Broermann Medical Innovation Award online and on social media:

http://www.broermann-award.com

http://www.facebook.com/people/Broermann-Medical-Innovation-Award/615

67211302915/

http://www.linkedin.com/company/broermann-medical-innovation-award/

http://www.mastodon.social/@BroermannMedicalnnovationAward

http://www.instagram.com/broermannaward

About Asklepios Kliniken

Corporate Communications Marketing Department

Tel.: +49 (0) 40 / 18 18-82 66 36

presse@asklepios.com

24-hour press-office on-call service: +49 (0) 40 / 1818-82 8888

Visit Asklepios online and on social media:

http://www.asklepios.com

http://www.asklepios.com/gesundheitsmagazin

http://www.youtube.com/asklepioskliniken

de.linkedin.com/company/Asklepios

http://www.instagram.com/asklepioskliniken/

http://www.facebook.com/asklepioskliniken

About News Aktuell GmbH

news aktuell GmbH - Ein Unternehmen der dpa-Gruppe

Mittelweg 144, 20148 Hamburg

Telefon: +49 (0)40 4113-32850, Telefax: +49 (0)40 4113-32855

http://www.newsaktuell.de

Registergericht: Hamburg, Registernummer: HRB 127245

Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer gemäß § 27 a Umsatzsteuergesetz: DE815240626
Vertretungsberechtigte Personen:Petra Busch (Geschäftsführerin),Vithunan Lingeswaran (Geschäftsführer)

Media Contact and Further Information

"Asklepios Kliniken" noreply@pressmailing.net  

 

 

A Traditional Diet could be Key to Combatting the Rise of Type-2 Diabetes

An international team of researchers, led by the University of Glasgow in collaboration with Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal, is investigating whether reverting to a traditional diet could help to reduce the growing number of people with type-2 diabetes in Nepal.

The four-year study, which will run from 2026 to 2030, is funded by an award of £1.78m from The Howard Foundation and is led by diabetes and human nutrition expert Professor Michael Lean from the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing at the University of Glasgow.

The CoDIAPREM project (Community-based Diabetes Prevention and Remission) aims to demonstrate the effectiveness and sustainability of consuming a traditional diet, as both a treatment and prevention method for type-2 diabetes. The diet plan, delivered and supported mainly by local volunteers in a community-based programme with minimal demand on health professionals, achieves modest weight loss by specifically excluding energy-dense processed foods.

Researchers hope their data will support low-cost community interventions for type-2 diabetes in other countries around the world.

Until recently, type-2 diabetes was rare in Nepal. Nepalese people, along with other Asian and indigenous peoples, are genetically predisposed to type-2 diabetes but the disease only emerged after energy-dense processed foods were introduced to the country, and people started to gain weight. Now, the country has a high prevalence of the disease and its disabling complications – about one in five people aged over 40 have it, and medication-based diabetes treatments are unaffordable for most people.

In response, the CoDIAPREM project will test a community-led drive to re-adopt Nepal’s traditional foods to achieve and maintain lower body weight, which appears to have prevented most diabetes in the past. The research team will assess the diet’s ability to prevent the onset of type-2 diabetes, and also its ability to achieve long-term remissions, without the need for medications, in people discovered to have already developed the disease. Pilot research in Nepal demonstrating remissions of diabetes has been very promising, offering a solution to type-2 diabetes at very low cost and with minimal health professional input.

Professor Lean said:

“The CoDIAPREM project is an exciting and important opportunity to understand whether a low-cost, traditional food-based intervention could work to prevent the onset of type-2 diabetes and help achieve remission for those who already have the disease.

“The impact of manufactured foods on weight gain and diabetes rates in countries such as Nepal is worrying. This project will give us vital, real-world data to demonstrate the effectiveness of a low-cost traditional food intervention for type-2 diabetes and could potentially save significant costs for global healthcare systems.

“We are immensely grateful to the Howard Foundation for recognising the importance of this project and supporting our work.”

The CoDIAPREM project was originally approved by the UK government as part of its Global Health Research Programme. However, subsequent budgetary changes resulted in programme funding being withdrawn in 2025.

For the last 15 years Professor Lean has been working on research into type-2 diabetes and its remission using a structured diet programme developed in Scotland and used in the landmark Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT), funded by Diabetes UK. This management approach has now been adopted for routine care in every Scottish NHS Health Board, and by NHS England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in other countries around the world.

Research in DiRECT showed that type-2 diabetes is mainly driven by body fat accumulation damaging vital organs, and is best treated through weight loss as early as possible. Sufficient weight loss stops the disease process in its tracks, potentially achieving remission (defined as no longer diabetic and not requiring medication).

Halting the progression of type-2 diabetes, alongside preventing it from developing, are goals not only for patients but also healthcare systems around the world. Type-2 diabetes is now one of the most expensive diseases, through the escalating costs of new medications and the costs of its chronic complications which include blindness, kidney failure, amputations, infections and premature dementia.

Dr Biraj Karmacharya, from Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal, said:

“This work will be a major milestone in creating a model of success on how nutritional interventions in low-income settings like Nepal can transform diabetes prevention and management. This will also create novel platform for future works on nutrition and health in Nepal and beyond.”

The results of CoDIAPREM, which also has input from the Universities of Greenwich and Oxford, are expected to be of high importance to lower-income countries, potentially offering a model for low-cost intervention against type-2 diabetes.

Julie Lambert, Chair of the Howard Foundation, said:

“The Howard Foundation is delighted to be able to support the CoDIAPREM project in Nepal over the next 4 years.

“My father, Dr Alan Howard, who set up the Howard Foundation in 1982, led research into obesity and weight loss in the 1960s and 1970s leading to the creation of a dietary approach to treating obesity. When Professor Lean approached the Foundation we saw that this research has now come full-circle.

“We believe that funding this project will have a major public health value. It will highlight the role of diet in both the prevention and treatment of diabetes in Nepal and in other low-to-medium economies.”

About the Howard Foundation

 The Howard Foundation, set up by Dr Alan Howard in 1982, is a family charity and was created initially to finance new buildings at Downing College Cambridge, followed by funding bio-medical research and now funding research into relieving malnutrition. Dr Howard died in 2020 and the Foundation is now chaired by his daughter Julie Lambert.

Further information about their activities is available here: https://www.howard-foundation.com   

Media Contact and Further Information 

For more information contact Elizabeth McMeekin or Ali Howard in the University of Glasgow Communications and Public Affairs Office on Elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk  or ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk

 

 

Voices on Cancer Frontline Call for Whole-Pathway Care as National Cancer Plan is Unveiled

 

An open letter from clinicians, patients, charities, employers and technologists responds to England’s new 10-year cancer strategy

A coalition of clinicians, patients, charities, employers, insurers and health technology leaders has published an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, welcoming the publication of the National Cancer Plan for England while urging urgent action to ensure it delivers meaningful change for people living with and beyond cancer.

The open letter, coordinated by Perci Health, the UK’s largest multidisciplinary virtual cancer clinic, responds to the government’s newly launched 10-year plan, which aims to restore cancer waiting times by 2029, increase five-year survival to 75 percent by 2035, and improve quality of life by shifting care closer to home.

The National Cancer Plan was developed in consultation with clinicians, charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, and the lived experience of more than 11,000 patients and carers. The response letter reflects that same breadth, bringing together frontline professionals and people affected by cancer to assess whether the plan goes far enough and how it can be delivered at scale.

“Right now, cancer care in the UK is failing far too many people,” said Dr Anthony Cunliffe, GP and National Lead Medical Adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support. “The ambition is welcome, but delivery will be everything.

“The Government and NHS will not be able to deliver this plan on their own. Professionals are under immense pressure, and the financial environment is as challenging as it has ever been.”

Cancer as a Population-wide Challenge

Cancer is no longer a rare or isolated event. According to Macmillan’s latest analysis, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer every 75 seconds, nearly 1,200 people each day. The impact extends far beyond hospitals, affecting families, workplaces, communities and the wider economy.

“Responding to this scale of need requires more than a clinical plan,” said Kelly McCabe, Co-Founder and CEO of Perci Health. “It requires whole-pathway, whole-person care that continues long after treatment ends.”

Four Questions the System Must Answer

The open letter organises expert responses to the National Cancer Plan around four core questions that health leaders say will determine its success.

Does the Plan Cover the Entire Cancer Pathway?
While contributors welcomed the plan’s emphasis on early diagnosis and screening, they raised concerns about missed appointments, recovery support, return-to-work care, and life after treatment.

“Early diagnosis shapes how people cope psychologically for years,” said Dr Lucy Davidson, Director of Psycho-Oncology Services at Perci Health. “But recovery, mental health, employment and long-term functioning still receive far less attention.”

Perci Health’s Medical Director, Dr Matt Brown, applauds the Plan’s focus on early detection as a way to achieve better outcomes.

He says: “From professional experience we know that early detection not only saves lives, it can significantly reduce the intensity and long-term impact of treatment.”

The plan promises advances in screening, yet, when 35% of screening appointments are missed, appears to lack a comprehensive strategy for encouraging uptake across all programmes.

Vanessa Sallows is Claims & Clinical Development Director – Group Protection, at L&G, and values education in early detection, said: “We’ve previously seen campaigns around lifestyle drivers of screening non-attendance, so what’s different about this one and how can outcomes be achieved?”

Does the Plan Adequately Address Inequities in Cancer Care?

Clinicians and lived-experience advocates highlighted postcode variation, disability access, neurodivergence, ethnicity and employment status as persistent drivers of unequal outcomes.

“Accessibility is not just about diagnostics,” said Melanie Costas, cancer survivor and member of Perci’s Lived Experience Board. “It is about communication, trauma-aware care, and systems that work for everyone.

“Chronic fatigue, mental health challenges, employment barriers and fragmented care leave too many people rebuilding their lives alone. Earlier, more proactive support needs equal priority to earlier diagnosis.”

Does the Plan Use Technology to Personalise Care?

The group welcomed investment in digital infrastructure but warned against simply digitising existing pathways.

“Technology should enable proactive, personalised and risk-stratified care,” said Paddy Rehill, Chief Technology Officer at Perci Health. “Outcomes must be measured in ways that reflect real life, not just clinical milestones.”

Is the Plan Deliverable within Today’s Workforce Constraints?

Workforce shortages emerged as the most significant risk to delivery, particularly for allied health professionals who play a critical role in survivorship, rehabilitation and psychological support.

“Ambition alone will not deliver neighbourhood care at scale,” said Morgan Fitzsimons, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Perci Health. “Technology can extend NHS capacity when paired with expert-led, flexible workforce models.”

A Call for Cross Sector Collaboration

Signatories agree that the government and NHS cannot deliver the plan alone. They argue for deeper partnerships across healthcare, technology, employers, insurers and the voluntary sector to close gaps in care and reduce pressure on overstretched services.

“Cancer must be treated as a long-term condition that affects working lives,” said Sharron Moffat, Workplace Trainer. “If workplaces are not part of the solution, many people will continue to fall through the cracks. “The plan is strong on diagnosis and treatment, but far less developed when it comes to the realities people face alongside and after cancer, especially work, income, mental health and long-term functioning. These factors often shape recovery more than treatment itself.”

Helen Aldis MBE, Founder, Change + Check breast cancer awareness campaign, added: “More needs to be done on early diagnosis and prevention. We are lagging far behind other comparable countries.”

From Words to Action

The open letter concludes with a call to embed whole-person, data-driven cancer care as standard practice, not innovation.

“The direction of travel reflects what patients and clinicians have been saying for years,” said McCabe. “Implementation will be the real test of whether those voices continue to shape change.”

Here's a link to the letter

https://percihealth.com/articles/voices-from-the-cancer-frontline-an-open-letter-from-perci-health-in-response-to-the-national-cancer-plan

Media Contact and Further Information

Press contact: Stephen@murraycomms.com

About Perci Health

Perci Health is redefining cancer care with a proactive model that supports people from risk to recovery. Backed by leading oncologists and Macmillan Cancer Support, it combines human expert-led care with smart technology to help you prevent, prepare for, manage, and recover from cancer. Whether you're navigating treatment or rebuilding life after it, Perci Health supports with practical, personalised support. Because cancer isn’t on your terms, but the care you get should be.

Perci Health. Whole Human Cancer Care. https://percihealth.com/

 

 

Trials Suggest Herbal Supplement can Reduce Anxiety for Just 36p Per Dose

Trials suggest herbal supplement can reduce anxiety for just 46p a dose

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the UK, with over 8 million people experiencing an anxiety disorder at any one time. As prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications continue to soar, new research positions lavender oil as an alternative treatment option with fewer withdrawal symptoms.

The UK has seen a marked rise in generalised anxiety over the past decade, especially amongst younger people and women. 1 in 10 adults are living with a diagnosable anxiety disorder at any one time, but this may not paint the whole picture; a recent survey from Kalms Herbal Remedies has revealed that 48% of adults living in the UK often feel anxious, which affects their day-to-day life.

Kalms’ research is supported by the fact that the number of prescriptions for powerful anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications) has risen sharply over the past 10 years. However, not all symptoms and experiences of anxiety warrant this type of medication.

Current NICE guidelines discourage healthcare professionals from prescribing potentially addictive medications, such as benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), especially for those at the mild-to-moderate end of the anxiety spectrum. However, with difficulties accessing alternative treatments, as well as limited appointment times, GPs and other healthcare professionals often struggle to give meaningful help to patients.

Dr Hans-Peter Volz, a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, comments:

“The use, and misuse, of prescription anti-anxiety medication is rising. Doctors can be quick to medicate people who are experiencing emotional distress, without exploring alternative options. Medicating too quickly can lead to the unnecessary prescribing of medication, and in some cases, can cause a dependency to the drug. The problem then, is trying to reduce dependency and get patients off the prescribed medication. It is important that we look at complementary treatments to prescription drugs for anxiety such as talking therapies, mindfulness and traditional herbal remedies.”

New research suggests that there is a non-addictive alternative to commonly prescribed anxiolytics for individuals. Five double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trials demonstrated the effectiveness of pharmaceutical quality lavender oil, when taken orally as a daily capsule, in the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe anxiety. After 10 weeks’ treatment, patients with subthreshold anxiety, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder (MADD), and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), reported noticeable improvements to their well-being and quality of life, including anxiety-associated symptoms.

Dr Annabelle Grimm, Global Medical Affairs Manager at Schwabe Group, and an expert regarding pharmaceutical-quality lavender oil comments:

“There have been several clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of pharmaceutical quality lavender oil in the treatment of mild anxiety. Research suggests its effectiveness rivals that of commonly prescribed anxiolytics like benzodiazepines and SSRIs. This study is particularly exciting as it demonstrates that pharmaceutical quality lavender oil substantially alleviates anxiety symptoms across all severity levels, without the drawbacks associated with sedation and addiction. The results, together with its favourable tolerability profile, position pharmaceutical quality lavender oil as an effective first-line treatment option for patients, particularly from the mild-to-moderate end of the anxiety spectrum.”

To ensure the best treatment and support, it is essential that healthcare professionals acknowledge different the symptoms, experiences, and severities of anxiety to provide personalised care. This might involve a combination of therapy, medication, lifestyle adjustments and self-care practices tailored to the individual's needs.

The anxiety-relieving effects of uniquely prepared, pharmaceutical quality lavender oil are available only in Kalms Lavender One-A-Day Capsules.

Further information

About Kalms Lavender One-Day Capsules

More than 15 clinical trials suggest that uniquely prepared pharmaceutical quality lavender oil, found only in Kalms Lavender, can significantly reduce both physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety.

Kalms Lavender One-A-Day Capsules are a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the temporary relief of the symptoms of mild anxiety such as stress and nervousness, exclusively based on long standing use as a traditional herbal remedy. Always read the label.

Kalms Lavender One-A-Day capsules are available to buy from Boots and Superdrug as well as supermarkets and pharmacies nationwide. You can also purchase the product online at www.kalmsrange.com and at Amazon. RRP £8.49

Natural Health Science Foundation Certified

The Natural Health Science Foundation (NHFS) has certified pharmaceutical quality lavender oil, found only in Kalms Lavender, as a Natural Health Product “Empowered by Evidence”. This accreditation by an independent scientific organisation confirms that:

• Pharmaceutical quality lavender oil’s health benefits are supported by clinical evidence
• Pharmaceutical quality lavender oil, found in Kalms Lavender, is identical to the product tested in clinical trials

The NHSF is an independent international scientific non-profit organisation whose aim is to assist HCPs, consumers and journalists to clearly identify specific herbal products with evidence and quality.

Mode of Action Video
A video showing the anxiety relieving mode of action of pharmaceutical quality lavender oil capsules on the brain can be viewed here.

Contact and Further Information

Phoebe Stinchcombe Deans  phoebe.deans@beyondpr.com  >

 

 

The Unexpected Sweating Symptom That Could Signal Low Vitamin D Levels

Nutrition experts Leia Casey, Charlotte East & Jenny Rogers, speaking on behalf of Nature’s Best, a UK-based vitamin and supplement provider, have answered some of the most pressing questions people are asking about vitamin D right now:

Why does vitamin D deficiency increase with seasonal change?

“Sunlight is essential for vitamin D synthesis; however, in more northerly countries such as the UK, vitamin D will only be synthesised in the skin from April to September,” says Leia Casey.

“Even if the sun is shining, in winter the sun’s position is too low in the sky and there are insufficient UV-B rays to stimulate the production of vitamin D. Supplementation may therefore be particularly useful through the winter months.”

How Often You Should Be Taking Vitamin D Supplements

“Requirements for vitamin D supplementation vary from person to person, depending on individual health factors,” says Jenny Rogers.

“For example, individuals with specific immune or bone health concerns may benefit from taking higher-strength vitamin D supplements throughout the year. Similarly, those with limited sun exposure during the summer months may also find year-round supplementation beneficial. 

“Alternatively, if you are looking to supplement vitamin D for general maintenance, and you get some exposure during the summer, you may wish to take a daily supplement just between October and March, when the sunlight in the UK is limited.” 

The Benefits of Vitamin D Supplements

Charlotte East says, “Vitamin D plays a crucial role in supporting bone health by contributing to the normal absorption and utilisation of minerals like calcium and phosphorus. A deficiency can lead to conditions like rickets in children or osteoporosis in adults.

“Beyond bone health, vitamin D plays a role in:

• • The immune system helps the body to fight off invading pathogens.
  • Cell health, through its antioxidant properties and by supporting normal cell division. 

“Emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to certain mood changes.
“Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a condition that occurs most commonly in winter due to reduced sunlight, can cause low mood, tiredness, lack of interest, and disrupted sleep. Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to help manage some of these symptoms, particularly in individuals with low vitamin D levels.”

How Can People Get More Vitamin D Besides Supplements, Especially During The Colder Months?

“Dietary sources of vitamin D are limited to oily fish, egg yolks, fortified foods and certain mushrooms exposed to sunlight.

“To help your body absorb vitamin D effectively, include healthy fats in your meals. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and requires fat to be absorbed. Think nuts, seeds, avocados and olive oil,” continues Charlotte East. 

 “In winter, aim to get as much sun exposure as possible between. A simple trick to know if the sun is in the right position is to check your shadow. If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun is high enough for your skin to start producing vitamin D. 

“Exercising in winter may also play a role. Physical activity can help release inactive vitamin D stored in muscles and convert it into its active D3 form. One recent study found that those who exercise over the winter months demonstrated a significantly smaller decrease in circulating vitamin D levels when compared to those who didn’t.”

Signs To Look For That Someone Would Be Lacking Vitamin D

Below, Leia Casey lists some of the signs someone could be lacking in vitamins:

“Vitamin D contributes to a wide range of physiological processes within the body, and so when we are lacking in this nutrient, it can cause several different symptoms:

• • Vitamin D helps maintain normal bones and teeth. A deficiency may lead to weakened, painful bones and the risk of fractures. 
  • Prolonged deficiencies can contribute to conditions such as rickets in children and osteopenia and osteoporosis in adults. 
  • Vitamin D also supports normal muscle function, so a lack of it can cause muscle aches and joint pain.
  • You may notice more frequent infections, as vitamin D plays a key role in supporting the immune system.
  • Other common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include fatigue, sleep disturbances and low mood. 

Is It Possible To Take Too Much Vitamin D?

“It is important to note that the National Diet and Nutrition Survey from 2019 to 2023 results determined that 23% of children aged 11 to 18 years and 18% of adults aged 19 to 64 years had low vitamin D status in the UK. However, it is possible to take too much,” says Charlotte East.

“The safe upper limit for vitamin D supplementation varies by age. For most adults, it is generally recommended not to exceed 4000 IU (100 mcg) unless under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

“Excessive intake can lead to hypercalcaemia, a condition where calcium levels in the blood become too high. This can result in symptoms like kidney stones, weak bones, muscle aches, confusion, constipation, and nausea. If you’re unsure about adding a vitamin D supplement into your regime, speak with a healthcare professional.” 

Nature’s Best: https://www.naturesbest.co.uk/vitamin-d/

Further Information and media Contact

"Erica" erica.botchway@jbh.co.uk