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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the percentage of United Kingdom adults who consume less than the recommended daily allowance of (a) vitamin A, (b) thiamin, (c) riboflavin, (d) vitamin C, (e) vitamin D, (f) iron and (g) calcium; and if he will make a statement on the trend for these figures over the last 10 years. [24460] Mr. Rooker: I have been asked to reply. Recommended daily allowances have been replaced by reference nutrient intakes (RNI). The RNIs and their scientific basis are set out in the Department of Health Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy's 1991 report on dietary reference values. If average intakes are at or above the RNI, the likelihood of deficiency in any group is small. Therefore, up to 50 per cent. of individuals in any group with adequate dietary intakes may consume less than the RNI. Table 1 gives information on the proportion of adults found in a survey in 1986-87 to have intakes below the RNI for the named nutrients. Vitamin D is not included in the table as there is no RNI for this nutrient in adults under 65 years of age. Table 1: Proportion of adults with intakes below the RNI, 1986-87 Per cent _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Nutrient Men Women 16-18 years 19-50 years 51-64 years 16-18 years 19-50 years 51-64 years Vitamin A 44 27 18 44 31 21 Thiamin 10 8 4 10 12 7 Riboflavin 19 12 9 37 21 17 Vitamin C 21 26 22 29 34 29 Iron 36 12 12 93 89 34 Calcium 64 25 16 71 48 43 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

24460; 305 c205-6W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Consumption Health Food Nutrition Vitamins Vitamin A Calcium Vitamin D

Contains statistics

Yes