Mr John Christofides, Principal Clinical Scientist

Published September 2nd, 2010 | Last updated January 25th, 2012
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John Christofides is a Principal Clinical Scientist with the Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust based at the Specialist Biochemistry lab at West Park Hospital, Epsom in Surrey. Apart from Vitamin D the author’s other interests include metabolic disordersA group of disorders in which some aspect of body chemistry is disturbed. associated with the porphyrias, neuroendocrine tumours and fatty acids, as well as providing an analytical service to the mental health services in the detection of drugs of abuse. These varied interests have provided opportunities for lecturing and supervising undergrad and postgraduate student projects whilst also maintaining a modest flow of papers, posters and two book chapters.

The author developed an interest in vitaminEssential substances that cannot be produced by the body and so must be acquired from the diet. D after setting up an in-house assay in the mid 1980s predating the introduction of commercial kits by several years. This service has grown from a dozen requests a week to over 10,000 requests from his laboratory a year.

As a student the author worked in the private sector as an analytical chemist but has worked in the NHS since 1976 preferring to use his skills to develop tests and interpreting test results to help clinicians arrive at a diagnosisThe process of determining which condition a patient may have. when dealing with a sick patient. 

Diagnosing nutritional vitamin D deficiency is done by measuring the combined 25-hydroxycholecalciferol plus 25-hydroxyergo-calciferol in bloodA fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid.. Interpretation of an adequate blood level has changed in opinion over the last 10 years but a consensus has now been reached allowing clinicians to diagnose and treat various degrees of insufficiency and dangerous deficiency. 

“My interest in food supplements and vitamins has suggested that people on normal diets may be wasting their money on food supplements or so-called 'superfoods' other than vitamin D itself. It is probably one of the very few vitamins where scientific evidence conclusively shows the benefit of boosting our vitamin D blood levels with supplements, especially during the winter months when natural sun stimulation is inadequate”.

Advising the press, John provides a public service and explains how three quarters of the UK population has vitamin D deficiency during winter and spring and that elderly and immobile people are dangerously deficient all year round.

If you are interested in finding out your own vitamin D levels, please contact the laboratory via the simple online form.

Articles: 

  • Health implications for moving North… do you need more sunshine?

    By Mr John Christofides, Principal Clinical ScientistContact

    Vitamin D status in Europe shows surprisingly wide variation; for example the 1997 SUVIMAX study in French adult men and women aged 35-65 years showed an average of 43nmol/L in the North, which is classified as insufficient by modern standards, and 94 nmol/L in the South West of France, (classified optimal by modern standards as it was >80nmol/L). This is as might be expected with the known variation of vitaminEssential substances that cannot be produced by the body and so must be acquired from the diet. D status against latitude. In contrast the 1995 Euronaut-Seneca study on independent elderly people showed a greater vitamin D level in the North of Europe compared to southern Europe, however, both latitudes were classified sub optimal by modern standards and may have simply reflected the generally poor Vitamin D status of elderly house-bound people irrespective of latitude. 

  • Vitamin D promotes good health and it’s free

    By Mr John Christofides, Principal Clinical ScientistContact

    This article reviews the prevalence of chronicA disease of long duration generally involving slow changes. vitaminEssential substances that cannot be produced by the body and so must be acquired from the diet. D deficiency in the UK population and the growing interest in its protective effects against various diseases. The UK government policy of sun avoidance claims to have slowed down the increase in melanomaA malignant tumour arising from pigmented cells or melanocytes, most often in the skin but has had a deleterious effect on the simple and natural means of skin production of vitamin D. The review shows that an alternative to oral supplementation is sensible sun exposure, taking care not to burn, is all that is required to maintain adequate bloodA fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid. levels and avoid the winter drop in vitamin D. The elderly and immobile in particular should be targeted for vitamin D blood screeningA way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to and appropriate oral supplementation.

    If you are worried about your vitamin status order a lab request.

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