Vitamin D in flour could save NHS millions in coming decades

ADDING vitamin D to wheat flour could prevent 10 million new cases of vitamin D deficiency in England and Wales over 90 years, University of Birmingham researchers claim.

The mandatory fortification of flour with the vitamin would also reduce the burden on the NHS by preventing 25 per cent of the estimated 40 million new cases of deficiency in the coming 90 years.

Vitamin D is essential for skeletal growth and bone health, and deficiency can lead to rickets, soft bones, bone pain and muscle weakness.

Offering free vitamin D supplements to targeted groups – including children, the elderly and Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) risk groups – would prevent an additional eight per cent of new cases of deficiency over the next 90 years.

The research was led by the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Applied Health Research and Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research.

The main natural source of vitamin D is through exposure of skin to sunlight. However, sun screen use, air pollution, indoors lifestyles, and wearing full body clothing can all reduce exposure and lead to vitamin D deficiency. Dark skin produces far less vitamin D than white skin, and from October to April in the UK there is insufficient ambient ultraviolet sunlight to produce healthy levels of vitamin D in all ethnicities.

Dr Magda Aguiar, of the University of Birmingham, said: “While both supplements and fortified foods are important sources of vitamin D for the UK population, evidence suggests current UK supplementation polices are not working.

“Addressing vitamin D deficiency in the UK requires a multi-disciplinary approach and preventing conditions that are the consequence of deficiency would save the NHS money to the extent that it would more than compensate for the money needed to implement flour fortification at a national level.”