Michael Mosley says 27p pill should be taken daily to prevent colds and boost brain health

Winter is a time when health problems among people jump, but one readily available pill may be able to keep several at bay.That's according to expert Michael Mosley, who has spoken on the benefits of taking vitamin D, especially in the UK, where the weather can be darker in the colder months.

Speaking on an instalment of his Just One Thing podcast, Mr Mosley explained how eating the right foods may not be enough to solve a vitamin D deficiency.Discussing with guest Dr David Llewellyn of the University of Exeter, Mr Mosley said: "Although you’ll find vitamin D in fatty fish, and to a much lesser extent in eggs, it’s really hard to get enough just through your diet – and so supplements are the way to go."The guidance in the UK is that everyone should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms or 400 international units of vitamin D, particularly during the winter months."Dr Mosley said the simple pill has a range of health benefits, from keeping bones strong to boosting the immune system and improving brain health, reports Wales Online.

Citing scientific research, he claims that taking the tablet, which costs as little as 27p each, could help in warding off colds, dementia and depression."Since its discovery in the 1920s, vitamin D’s best-known role is keeping bones healthy by increasing our body’s absorption of calcium," he said. "That’s why rickets, which used to be very common, is rare now."Research shows that people taking vitamin D supplements are less likely to get the common cold, and it also reduces how long an infection lasts.

Vitamin D is essential for activating your T-cells, a key part of your immune system. If your vitamin D levels are low, then your body will be less effective at fighting off