All Children Under-Four May Be Given Free Vitamins To Prevent Rickets
All Children Under-Four May Be Given Free Vitamins To Prevent Rickets
Ellen Wallwork— The Huffington Post UK
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Health experts are calling for all children under-four to be given free vitamins to combat a rise in rickets.
Dame Sally Davies, the government's chief medical officer, has raised concerns over the increasing number of children with vitamin D deficiency — a prime cause of rickets.
She has ordered the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to conduct a review of the cost-effectiveness of giving vitamin supplements to all children under four.
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X-ray of the legs of a young child with rickets
Alastair Sutcliffe, one of Britain’s leading experts on vitamin D deficiency and a consultant paediatrician at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), has voiced his support for the review.
Sutcliffe said that the rise in the number of children diagnosed with rickets could be due to a trend for children to spend more time indoors, but added that parents might also have gone “over the top” in their use of sunblock to protect children from skin damage.
“Sunblock is so powerful, it does work but you end up with no exposure to the sun," he said.
“People are perhaps overdoing it. They are putting all of this stuff on in our climate.
“The outcome is that you are blocking out sunshine and you have a secondary effect of reduced exposure to sunshine which the human race needs.”
He suggested parents should consider a lower factor suncream when their children are out in the British sun, — such as factor 30, instead of factor 40 or 50.
Rickets, a disease that can cause bone pain and deformities including bowed legs and curvature of the spine, was rife in the Victorian era but had been virtually wiped out until recent years, when doctors noticed an increase in the number of children developing with the condition.
The latest national diet and nutrition survey, conducted by Public Health England, found that 7.5% of children aged 18 months to 3 years were low in vitamin D.
Vitamin D deficiency can also cause poor growth, heart muscle disease and seizures in infants, and is linked osteoporosis, several forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes.
Dr Nitin Shori, Medical Director of the Pharmacy2U and a working NHS GP, advises that parents should also ensure their children are getting vitamin D through their diet:
“Time spent outdoors is a major factor in increasing vitamin D levels, but making sure children have a healthy diet is of course important too," he told HuffPost UK LIfestyle.
"Good sources of vitamin D include eggs, oily fish and fortified cereals. Dairy products like milk and cheese are good providers of calcium, but there are other sources too, including broccoli.
“In some cases vitamin supplements might be advisable.”
12 Foods Full Of Vitamin D
Salmon(01 of12)
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If you're going to choose a fish dish, go with salmon. An oily fish high in vitamin D, salmon also has omega 3 fats, protein, vitamin B12 and selenium. "If you eat the soft bones in half a can of salmon (105 grams) you will be consuming almost as much calcium as in a glass of milk," says registered dietitian dietitian Shauna Lindzon. (credit:Jonathan Kantor via Getty Images)
Mackerel(02 of12)
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Another oily fish high in vitamin D and omega 3 fats, mackerel is also rich in vitamins A, B6, B12, C, E and K. Lindzon adds pregnant women, however, should limit mackerel consumption because of its high mercury content. (credit:StockFood/Drool Ltd, William Lingwood via Getty Images)
Sardines(03 of12)
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Sardines are loaded with vitamin B12, selenium, omega 3 fats, protein and vitamin D. "Sardines are very perishable, so eat them when they are fresh," Lindzon says. And since they are smaller fish, they contain lower levels of mercury. Watch out for canned sardines, which may be filled with extra sodium. (credit:Zoran Milich via Getty Images)
Beef Liver(04 of12)
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Beef liver is a high protein, high cholesterol food choice, Lindzon says. It's high in vitamin B6, B12, and also contains a large amount of dietary iron. (credit:Naotaka Tamura via Getty Images)
Milk(05 of12)
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Milk is often called "nature's perfect food", because it's a rich source of many different vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamin D and B. (credit:StockFood - Alison Miksch via Getty Images)
Egg Yolks (06 of12)
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The nutrients in egg yolks differ greatly from egg whites. Egg yolks are high in cholesterol, fat and fat-soluble vitamins including vitamins A, D, E and K. (credit:Greg Ceo via Getty Images)
Non-Diary Milk (07 of12)
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There are a variety of non-cow milks on the market that are also fortified with vitamin D — perfect for those of you who are vegan or have a lactose intolerance. "Certain brands of soy, rice, almond, and hemp milks have similar vitamins to cow's milk because of the fortification process," Lindzon says. (credit:FotografiaBasica via Getty Images)
Mushrooms(08 of12)
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Mushrooms (all of their edible varieties) have many cancer fighting properties and are a great source of vitamin D. (credit:Phoebe_Lapine via Getty Images)
Cereal (09 of12)
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"When reading labels of breakfast cereals, it is important to choose ones with a high fibre content (more than 4 to 5 grams) and low sugar content (less than 8 grams)," Lindzon says. Adding milk or a milk substitute to a breakfast cereal boosts the calcium, vitamin A, D, and protein content. (credit:Shana Novak via Getty Images)
Orange Juice (10 of12)
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There are some orange juices on the market that have calcium and vitamin D added to them. "This fortified orange juice provides people with an option to increase their vitamin intake if they don't consume milk," Lindzon says. However, it is important to note that orange juice lacks the fibre that is in the original orange, and some boxed varieties may have an excessive amount of sugar. (credit:Chris Stein via Getty Images)
Yogurt(11 of12)
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"It is important to check the nutrition labels of yogurts to see if they have vitamin D added," Lindzon says. When choosing yogurts, choose ones that are low in added sugar and high in vitamins. (credit:Cultura/Line Klein via Getty Images)
Cheese (12 of12)
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Cheese is derived from milk, and therefore has the same beneficial vitamins and minerals, including calcium and vitamin D. (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)