Free vitamins plan for all under- fives as rickets rises
ALL under- fives could get free vitamins under plans being considered by the Government.
At present, only low- income families qualify for vitamins on the NHS but rising fears about the number of children developing rickets, which is caused by a lack of vitamin D, has prompted a rethink.
England’s chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence ( Nice) to examine whether all children should receive drops or tablets containing vitamins A, C and D.
NHS recommendations are for all youngsters aged six months to five years to be given daily vitamin drops but parents have to pay for them unless they are part of the free Healthy Start programme.
Evidence suggests take- up of the vitamins is low among poorer families but even children in better- off families may not be getting enough.
Nice is likely to look at the cost- effectiveness of introducing free vitamins for children aged up to five.
Experts are worried by rising cases of rickets, with 40 per cent of children estimated to have vitamin D levels below the recommended amount.
The best source of vitamin D, which is essential for keeping bones and teeth healthy, is sun on the skin but a lack of exposure to sunlight and parents covering children in sunscreen is having an impact.
Vitamin D occurs in oily fish and eggs, and is added to some items such as fat spreads and breakfast cereals.
There are also worries over children not getting enough vitamin A, which is essential for strengthening the immune system and sight. It is found in dairy food, fortified fat spreads, carrots, sweet potatoes, swede, mangoes and green vegetables such as spinach, cabbage and broccoli. Vitamin C, found in oranges, kiwi fruit, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes and peppers, boosts the immune system and helps the body to absorb iron.
Prof Davies said: “We know that many children, not just those in vulnerable groups, have vitamin deficiency.”
She said rickets was making a comeback, adding: “It’s appalling. We are offering these vitamins to vulnerable children and the take- up is low but many children not in these communities need these vitamins too.” She said a scheme in Birmingham offering vitamin D to all children resulted in rickets cases being halved.
The Nice review comes as Prof Davies published a report on children’s health. It said reducing child obesity by one percentage point could save the NHS £ 1billion a year due to fewer long- term problems.
Currently 12.5 per cent of toddlers are obese as are 17 per cent of boys and 16 per cent of girls aged up to 15.