GET SOME SUN

Why are Singapore residents short on vitamin D? Why do babies need a shot of vitamin K? This second of a two-part series focuses on the benefits of vitamins D, E and K

- Akshita Nanda Correspondent

Vitamin D is produced by the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. This is the second of a two-part series. Last week: Benefits of vitamins A, B and C.

(PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK Go to str.sg/st5j5)

What to eat: Eggs; fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna; foods that have been fortified with vitamin D.

Vitamin D supports the immune system, muscle function and bone health, since it regulates the amount of calcium in the body.

It is commonly known as the “sunshine vitamin” because one of its two forms, vitamin D3, is produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight. The other form, vitamin D2, is derived from plant sources and fortified foods, and is less effective at raising blood serum levels of vitamin D.

Despite the sunny weather in Singapore, various studies on the local population over the years have shown that at least 30 per cent of those studied were deficient in vitamin D.

A study by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), published in 2024 in the journal PLoS One, found that up to 90 per cent of the pregnant women studied had insufficient levels of vitamin D.