Sunlight is our main source of vitamin D but with short winter days in particular, we risk our 'daily dose' falling short of the recommended levels. Additionally, with only 10% of the recommended daily amount found naturally in food there may be justification in fortifying more foods with vitamin D; a view supported by Professor Mitch Blair, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The clearest indication of deficiency is the increase in hospital admissions due to rickets over the last 15 years. Currently the Government's Healthy Start programme offers vitamins free for people on income support but it seems that the uptake level is low. Perhaps low-cost supplements available to all would be the answer, added to a dose of public knowledge of the need?
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