A daily supplement which costs as little as 4p could slow down the ageing process within our bodies. According to the NHS , people in
Britain should take vitamin D during the colder months. Between October and March, there is not enough sunlight for our bodies to produce it. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium and phosphate in the body, which are needed for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. A lack of this vitamin can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children or osteomalacia in adults, the NHS says . Now, scientists say the common supplement could slow down the body's ageing process - but more research is needed. READ MORE: Weather maps reveal when balmy 17C will hit
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BREAKING stories. A study has suggested that vitamin D could be an important supplement for people who want to live longer and healthier lives. Experts found taking vitamin D might help keep your gut healthy and bring many health benefits. A group of Italian scientists conducted a study on the potential benefits of vitamin D supplements and how they could impact signs of ageing in the body. It was led by Carmelinda Ruggiero from the University of Perugia's Division Gerontology and Geriatrics. The study was published in Nutrients journal, the Sun reports . Researchers said: "Ageing is a complex and multi-factorial process, marked by the progressive decline in organ functions, leading to frailty and increased susceptibility to age-related diseases." Changes in the body associated with ageing include chronic inflammation, imbalances in gut bacteria (dysbiosis) and cellular senescence - where cells stop multiplying but fail to die when they should. There is also genomic instability - where there is a higher chance for for DNA mutations to occur during cell division and can be a factor in many types of cancer. The research team suggested vitamin D could have a positive effect on a number of these age-related signs. Reasearchers said the supplement shows potential in regulating DNA stability and integrity, particularly in conditions like type 2 diabetes and cancer. Studies reviewed by the team also suggested vitamin D supplements may reduce DNA damage and oxidative stress. They said: "Vitamin D appears to regulate and influence several hallmarks of ageing through genomic and non-genomic pathways. Read More Related Articles Sweet moment Prince William's comforts George with touching gesture at ceremony Read More Related Articles First pictures of killer gang who ambushed DPD worker delivering parcels in shocking slaughter "Based on the available clinical studies, we can conclude that vitamin D may contribute to genomic stability." Trials with the supplement showed improved immunity in older adults. Further studies appeared to show vitamin D regulates protein homeostasis, which impacts longevity and muscle health. They said: "Notably, clinical studies support the potential of vitamin D supplementation in hampering dysbiosis, prompting the recovery of gut microbiota health, and providing multiple health benefits." They added: "Despite the interest in vitamin D supplementation as a strategy supporting human longevity and some evidence about its potential in modulating hallmarks of ageing, we are still far from the point of translation from bench to bed. Current knowledge does not allow yet to define a potential optimal vitamin D dosage for modulating hallmarks of ageing or the chronological or functional age at which vitamin D supplementation might be useful in modulating ageing biologically related factors. "We could speculate that early interventions to avoid vitamin D insufficiency might be protective in the long run, but longitudinal studies based on homogenous cohorts and targeted therapy are warranted." It comes after researchers from Charite Universitatsmedizin
Berlin looked at the epigenetic patterns in 1,600 people. Epigenetics is about how what we do and our surroundings can change how our genes work. They discovered people who did not have enough vitamin D were 'biologically older' than those with the right amount. Chromosomes, which are like the organisers of our DNA, seemed younger in people who had enough vitamin D (30-100 ng/mL). These findings hint that vitamin D could be a secret weapon in slowing down the ageing process. Some also believe taking vitamin D can help with the signs of dementia. Scientists have said that if everyone in the UK took vitamin D supplements, we could see 15 per cent fewer
cancer deaths. Research involving half a million Brits showed that not having enough vitamin D could make you more likely to die - especially from bowel, stomach, prostate, and lung cancers. You can get some vitamin D from what you eat, such as: Oily fish think salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel Red meat Liver (but don't eat this if you're expecting a baby) Egg yolks Foods that have had vitamin D added to them like some spreads and breakfast cereals Doctors say children over one and adults should take a supplement with 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day during autumn and winter.