soaking up the sun |
Vitamin
D – aka the ‘sunshine vitamin’ – is produced in the skin after exposure to
sunlight and can also be found in some foods.
And
now scientists from the University of Edinburgh have
found a link between vitamin D and ‘reproductive success’.
Their
findings come from monitoring a flock of sheep on a remote Scottish island.
But
they’re confident the results will be mirrored in other mammals – most
importantly humans.
Health
and wellbeing expert Jonathan Evans, founder of world-leading supplements firm
MANFLU, says the evidence could prove life-changing for many couples
desperately trying for a baby.
He
said: “We’ve long known that vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth
in humans, and it has been linked to other health benefits.
“When
we created our new MANFLU Soup A Hero product we enhanced it with 13 select
vitamins and minerals for immune support, to reduce tiredness and support
energy release.
"We
of course included vitamin D as people can be deficient at this time of year.
“And
now this piece of research offers another reason to ensure you’re getting
enough, either through plenty of time outdoors or through the right foods, such
as our vitamin D enriched ’Soup a Hero’ chicken soup.”
Dr
Richard Mellanby, Head of Small Animal Medicine at Edinburgh University's Royal
School of Veterinary Studies, says the wild sheep they surveyed on the island
of St Kilda were measured for concentrations of a marker linked to vitamin D in
the blood.
Sheep
with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood at the end of the summer went on
to have more lambs in the following spring.
The
research has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Hope: Health expert Jonathan
Evans says the findings are great news for couples trying to conceive
Dr
Mellanby says: "Our study is the first to link vitamin D status and
reproductive success in a wild animal population.
“Low
levels of vitamin D appear to dampen the immune response and make the body
almost attack itself.
“And
what we have shown for the first time in wild animals is that vitamin D is
linked with important life history events, like giving birth.”
The
research has also been welcomed by fertility campaigners.
Susan
Seenan, chief executive of the Infertility Network UK, said: “What is important
to remember when trying to conceive is to try to stay as healthy as possible
overall: eating a balanced diet, getting enough exercise and taking care of
your emotional health.
“Recent
studies suggesting a link between sunshine/vitamin D and improved fertility are
interesting; couples may want to consider boosting their sunshine exposure.”
The
news comes after a separate study, by Dr Emad Al-Dujaili, of Queen Margaret
University, Edinburgh, found that boosting vitamin D intake can raise energy
levels.
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