Food for thought as intake of vital vitamins plunges

BRITONS’ changing diets have seen our intake of key vitamins and minerals fall sharply over the past 20 years, a major study has found.

Experts say busy lifestyles, junk food and fad diets are putting people at increased risk of serious disease.

The study assessed intake of key nutrients among Britons between 1996 and 2016. Vitamin A intake – which is vital for the eyes and for reproductive health – has fallen 21 per cent. Vitamin D – crucial for the bones, brain and lungs – has fallen

‘Worrying declines across the board’

22 per cent. Calcium has dropped by 10 per cent, iron by 5 per cent and potassium by 4 per cent.

Teenage girls are particularly vulnerable to nutrient shortfalls, with more than one in five aged 11 to 18 deficient in levels of nine different nutrients – magnesium, potassium, iodine, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B2, iron and calcium.

Overall, fat and calorie intake has fallen by 25 and 17 per cent respectively – although these still exceed recommended levels. Protein intake increased by 10 per cent, magnesium by 2 per cent and zinc by 4 per cent.

The study, which was funded by the Health and Food Supplements Information Service and published in the Journal of Vitamins and Minerals, analyses two government sources – the Family Food Survey conducted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Public Health England’s national diet and nutrition survey.

Study author Dr Emma Derbyshire, of health consultancy Nutritional Insight Limited, said: ‘In spite of the abundance of information on nutrition and health, UK diets have not improved... and there are worrying declines in intakes of vitamins and minerals across the board.’

A recent study in the Lancet medical journal found poor diets are responsible for nearly 90,000 deaths in Britain every year. Nearly one in six UK deaths is linked to unhealthy food, the report found. A major problem is low intake of fruit and vegetables. Meanwhile, junk food is taking over our high streets – with 5,800 takeaways opening in just three-and-a-half years.

Dr Derbyshire said busy modern life is also playing its part, with many rarely sitting down to a balanced meal.

She also blamed misinformation and trendy ‘exclusion’ diets in which entire food groups, such as gluten or dairy, are cut out, saying: ‘Social media is a big driver of this. The trends are moving faster than the science behind them.’