Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Royston Smith (Conservative) on Thursday, 14 June 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 June 2018. It was answered by Steve Brine (Conservative) on Friday, 22 June 2018 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Deficiency Diseases

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the proportion of people who are deficient in essential vitamins and minerals.

Answer

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) provides information on intakes of vitamins and minerals and blood indicators of status.

Latest NDNS data (2014/15-2015/16) show that mean vitamin D intakes were a fifth to a third of the recommended amount in all age groups, and low blood vitamin D levels were seen in 26% of older children (11-18 years) and 17% of adults (19-64 years).

Low blood folate levels, indicating risk of anaemia, were found in 28% of older girls, 15% of older boys and 7% of adults.

54% of older girls and 27% of adult women had low iron intakes, and iron deficiency based on blood samples was found in 9% of older girls and 5% of adult women.

There was also evidence of low intakes of vitamin A, riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, potassium and selenium in some age groups.

Results of the NDNS are available to view at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-diet-and-nutrition-survey

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
153897
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Minerals Vitamins Deficiency diseases
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk