Research programme launched to explore Irelands Vitamin D levels and bone health

The Mercer Institute for Successful Ageing (MISA), at St James’s Hospital and Trinity College Dublin, recently announced a significant partnership with Avonmore Super Milk to investigate the Irish population’s Vitamin D levels and bone health.

A team from MISA will analyse approximately 10,000 blood samples from people of all ages to further understand Ireland’s Vitamin D levels. The results will be launched later this year in a bid to create better awareness around the importance of Vitamin D and to encourage the nation to invest in its bone health for healthier ageing.   

The partnership brings together MISA and Avonmore Super Milk’s shared goal of promoting the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the consumption of Vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth.

Vitamin D is known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because our bodies can make it from the sun. It plays a vital role in healthy bone development and helps the body absorb calcium, which is fundamental to build and maintain bone health throughout life. Unfortunately in Ireland there is not enough hours of sunlight for people to get adequate Vitamin D.

Speaking about the importance of the research, Prof. J. Bernard Walsh, Clinical Professor Trinity College Dublin, Bone Health and Osteoporosis Unit at MISA, commented: ‘The launch of this notable study builds on a long standing collaboration dating back 30 years between MISA and Avonmore when Super Milk was originally launched. Our past research clearly showed that Vitamin D fortified milk was very effective in raising Vitamin D levels and we look forward to sharing the results of our new research in due course.’

Helena Scully, Mercer’s Glanbia Bone Research Fellow at MISA, said: ‘The study will focus on identifying the factors that contribute to the very low Vitamin D levels that we see in a significant number of patients of all ages.’

Eoin Doyle, Head of Marketing at Glanbia Consumer Foods added: ‘Since its introduction to the market, Avonmore Super Milk has been at the forefront of promoting bone health and Vitamin D consumption for the Irish population. We are proud to be partnering with MISA on this substantial body of research and look forward to gaining a greater insight into the current status of Vitamin D levels and bone health in Ireland.’

Based in St James’ Hospital, Dublin MISA is a state-of-the-art-facility for integrated clinical services and a hub for world-leading research. It promotes coordinated patient care, coupled with far-reaching educational and training programmes with the ultimate aim of advancing conditions for successful ageing.

The easiest way to ensure adequate Vitamin D levels is by actively consuming food and drinks that are a good source of Vitamin D, such as tuna and mackerel and foods fortified with vitamin D such as Avonmore Super Milk. A 250ml* glass of Avonmore Super Milk provides 100 percent of a person’s EU recommended Vitamin D intake level of 5µg and is one of the simplest ways to help ensure adequate intake of the sunshine vitamin.

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