Soaring numbers have vitamin D deficiencies

2015/16, up 283% from 21,649 FCEs in 2011/12 and up from 59,428 in 2014/15.

This was an average of 15.4 FCEs per 10,000 people in 2015/16.

There were also 678 FCEs for rickets, up from 669 in 2014/15 and 2013/14, but down from 994 in 2011/12.

From about late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight.

The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors.

However, between October and early March, people don’t get enough vitamin D from sunlight.

Vitamin D is also found in a number of foods, such as oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks, and fortified foods – such as most fat spreads and some breakfast cereals.

Another source of vitamin D dietary supplements.

Some people, such as those who are housebound or those with dark skin, won’t get enough of the vitamin from sunlight because they have very little or no sunshine exposure.

The Department of Health recommends that these people take a daily supplement containing 10mcg of vitamin D.