Dr Sarah Jarvis, Good Housekeeping GP
I’m a pale, freckled redhead and got sunburnt several times as a child. Once I became a medical student I was extremely worried about my risk of skin cancer and have avoided the sun ever since. It’s only been in recent years that I’ve become aware of the health risks associated with lack of vitamin D. Colleagues including neurologists (multiple sclerosis), rheumatologists (osteoporosis) and cardiologists (heart disease) warned me there was a silent epidemic of vitamin D deficiency, and I was shocked to find I was way down in the deficient range. I now take Fultium, a vitamin D supplement.
