Key points from article :
There is an “alarmingly high” rate of vitamin D deficiency in the UK.
Prevalent in lower socioeconomic groups and affects vulnerable groups throughout all the seasons.
long winter months with fewer hours of daylight have contributed to vitamin D deficiency.
“Spending more time indoors and consuming lower vitamin D-containing foods can foster severe deficiency,” - Joshua Sutherland, author.
About 57% of Asians were severely deficient in winter/spring and 50.8% in summer and autumn.
Black Africans were the next, followed by mixed race people and Chinese participants.
White Europeans had the lowest prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.
Mr Sutherland highlighted “the continuing need for effective health interventions” in the country.
“Vitamin D supplements are beneficial in the prevention of respiratory infections and mortality,” - Elina Hypponen, vitamin D expert.
Research by University of South Australia published in Clinical nutrition journal.
