Brits urged to take 2p pill after Met Office's 'coolest summer in 10 years' report

Coolest summer in ten years puts people in the UK at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency NHS doctor warns

The Met Office has recorded this year's summer as the coldest in ten years. In its latest Seasonal Assessment report, the Met Office said 2024's average summer temperature was 14.3C - the lowest since 2015.

The cooler weather could signal reduced levels of essential vitamin D in the British public - only dipping further as winter approaches. This has sparked a health warning from experts, with Brits urged to check their vitamin D levels and to take supplements if needed.

Vitamin D plays a vital role in regulating calcium and phosphate levels, essential for maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. The NHS says most people should make all of the vitamin D they need from late March to the end of September.

However, with the coolest summer recorded in 10 years, seasonal changes may impact your ability to get enough of this key nutrient. Dr Dave Nichols, NHS GP and resident doctor at MyHealthChecked, is reminding people who live in the UK of the signs of a vitamin D deficiency.

He said: "For those who do develop symptoms, the first thing they may notice may be fatigue or tiredness. Vitamin D plays a key role in bone formation, so people may present with joint aches or pains, and in some cases fractures.

"Other symptoms include muscle aches or spasms, pins and needles sensation in the hands and feet, twitching, sleep disturbance or hair loss. More serious symptoms include muscle weakness and mood changes including depression, with recent work also highlighting that vitamin D may have a neuroprotective effect.

"Some studies have highlighted that low vitamin D levels may be associated with a higher risk of dementia. Supplementation may help reduce this risk.”

Explaining the potential health implications of having a cooler summer season than usual, Dr Nichols added: "The colder, damper weather means that our vitamin D levels are likely to be lower compared to the average for this time of year. Whilst you can absorb vitamin D on a cloudy day, the UVB exposure is less and so more time will be required to have the same effect."

Boots is selling a tub of 180 vitamin D tablets for £4 - meaning each pill only costs 2p. You can usually find vitamin D supplements at any major supermarket or pharmacy. Make sure to always speak to your doctor first before making any diet or lifestyle changes, and to check if you do or don't need to increase your vitamin D intake.

Thankfully, the UK doesn't need to store away the sun cream just yet. The Met Office’s long range forecast for the second half of September suggests that the UK, particularly the south, could see brief spells of warm or even very warm weather.

Although Britain will gladly welcome the warmer weather, Dr Nichols warns your ability to attain vitamin D can still differ. "During unseasonably warm autumn weather, vitamin D levels are likely to rise due to increased sun exposure," he said.

"However, the exposure time required to make vitamin D may be longer because the angle of the sun's rays are reduced as we head towards winter. Whilst the warmer weather is no doubt beneficial at helping to increase our vitamin D levels, our supplies last for weeks and are built up cumulatively over the summer period."

Luckily, plenty can be done to ensure Brits are getting the correct levels of vitamin D autumn arrives. The UK government's guidance recommends every Brit takes a daily supplement through autumn and winter.

Isabela Ramos, MyHealthChecked’s nutritionist and expert in nutrigenetics, has listed some key foods to help boost your intake of vitamin D below:

Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.

If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people. You cannot overdose on vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. But always remember to cover up or protect your skin if you're out in the sun for long periods to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.