Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid could order Vitamin D to be added to food and drink, stated reports after he launched a new review to identify ways to improve intake across the population, including fortified food and drink.
Javid on Sunday (3) has ordered the review amid the revelations that Vitamin D levels in millions of adults and children – particularly from black and Asian communities – are deemed too low with one in six adults and 20 percent of children are now said to be deficient in the vital vitamin.
“Vitamin D is essential for bone and muscle health. We must break the link between background and prospects for a healthy life,” Javid said.
“I have launched this call for evidence to identify innovative ways we can encourage people to increase their intake and live longer, healthier and happier lives,” Javid said.
“People from Black and Asian communities, older people and people who have limited access to the outdoors are more likely to have lower levels of vitamin D, which is essential for bone and muscle health and improving years of life lived in good health,” he said.
Javid has asked the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to advise on “possible practical solutions to improving population levels” of Vitamin D, such as food and drink fortification, Mail reported.
The move could include adding Vitamin D to milk, bread, margarine and cooking oils as is done in Canada, Sweden, Finland. Australia and the US.
Although Vitamin D is naturally produced by sunlight, low levels in winter can lead to rickets, bone pain and disabilities. Current medical advice recommends adults and children take a daily 10 microgram pill between October and March.
The call for evidence will kickstart a national campaign to gather views from the public, public health experts, retailers, food manufacturers and other industry bodies on to improve uptake and tackle disparities, the government said. The call for evidence will last for six weeks.
