Vitamins are nutrients the body requires to carry out necessary functions and processes. Because the body is unable to make most of these vitamins, we must get them from our diet.
The western diet is largely to blame for many of the nutrient deficiencies occurring in countries including the United Kingdom. Poor eating habits can cause us to become deficient in certain nutrients and this can lead to rising healthcare costs.
We looked at some of the data related to vitamins B9, B12 and D to see if the UK population is more likely to be deficient in these nutrients.
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Our Findings in Summary
We used a combination of our own internal data and NHS prescription data for this piece of research.
The key findings in summary:
- Everyone in the UK is at a greater risk of vitamin D deficiency. Over one-fifth of males included in our data had low or borderline low levels, whereas over a quarter of females had low or borderline low levels of vitamin D.
- Vegans, vegetarians and females are most at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Vegans/vegetarians are less likely to have folate deficiency due to their abundance in many natural foods.
- In 2017, the cost of vitamin D prescriptions had risen by 48% since 2015.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for healthy muscles and bones. However, it is a unique nutrient because although there are some dietary sources of the vitamin, our body can make its own. It does this through sunlight exposure and therefore it is sometimes called the ‘sunshine vitamin’.
However, because of where the UK is located and the reduced levels of sunshine it receives during the winter months, the UK population is at a greater risk of deficiency.
Forth’s statistics reveal that the average vitamin D result is 71nmol/L with just over a quarter of results being low or borderline low. On average women had a slightly lower level than men at 68nmol/L.
Both males and females are at risk of vitamin D deficiency in the UK and it can have major health consequences for both genders. Therefore, it is important deficiency is recognised and treated to avoid possible complications.
What is vitamin D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient which works to maintain calcium levels within the normal range in the human body. Even if you eat enough calcium, but your vitamin D levels are low, your body is unlikely to be able to absorb the calcium into your bones where it is vital. Therefore, having low vitamin D levels or being deficient increases the risk of low bone mineral density and fractures.
In children, low levels of vitamin D can result in rickets, a condition which causes permanent bone deformities, weak muscles and reduced growth.
Vitamin D is unique because our skin can make it once it has been exposed to the UVB rays of the sun. There are some food sources of the nutrient, but if you were to eat them and not expose your skin to sunlight, you would most probably be deficient. Because the UK’s sunlight exposure can vary, the population, in general, is at a greater risk of deficiency.
How to improve your vitamin D status?
Improving your vitamin D status is easier between April and September because there is a lot more sunshine. Although, there is no need to sunbathe avidly without any sun protection. This is not safe and increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Your skin can make vitamin D from exposed skin, for instance, hands, face arms and legs, but always remember to be safe in the sun.
Vitamin D is stored in the body and so, we can use it during the autumn and winter months. However, these stores can run out and the foods which contain vitamin D do not have enough to keep up with demand. Therefore, the best way to ensure you have adequate vitamin D is to supplement it. Everyone in the UK should take a supplement which contains 10 micrograms of vitamin per day.
Vitamin D rich food sources include:
- Oily fish – salmon, mackerel, kippers, trout, eels
- Cod liver oil
- Egg yolks
- Meat
- Milk
- Fortified breakfast cereals.
Vitamin B12
According to Nice, the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in the UK, is relatively low, at approximately 6% in individuals aged below 60. This corresponds with Forth’s blood test data, although those who are mostly likely to be more susceptible to deficiency are those following a plant based diet at just over 6.5%, whilst men are at the lowest risk of B12 deficiency at 2.07%.
Table 2. Vitamin B12 status in the UK according to gender
| Age Range | Reference range | Average Result | % low or borderline low | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All result | - | 37.5 - 188 | 107.88 | 2.78% |
| Female | all ages | 37.5 - 188 | 106.85 | 3.52% |
| Males | all ages | 37.5 - 188 | 108.84 | 2.07% |
| Vegan/ Vegetarian | all ages | 37.5 - 188 | 102.12 | 6.56% |
Source: Forth
What is vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is essential for the normal function of the nervous system, the metabolism of folate and to produce red blood cells. It also works with vitamins B6 and folate to maintain normal blood homocysteine levels. Increased homocysteine levels are a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.
Vegans are at a greater risk of vitamin B12 deficiency because it largely comes from animal-derived foods. Both deficiencies in B12 and in folate are also ore common in the older population and poor diet can be a factor. According to the NHS, 1 in 20 people aged 65-74 are affected.
How to improve your vitamin B12 status?
Vitamin B12 is present in nearly all foods from an animal source such as:
- Meat
- Fish
- Milk
- Eggs
- Cheese
However, vegans and vegetarians who choose not to eat animal products are at a greater risk of deficiency. So, too are older people who may not be following a healthy, balanced diet. New research shows young women may also be at risk, particularly if they follow fad diets and reduce their meat intake. Younger adults, in general, are more susceptible to micronutrient deficiencies. Some vegan-friendly sources of vitamin B12 include:
- Yeast extract like Marmite
- Fortifies breakfast cereals
- Some fortified soy products
If your levels are low then you may need to consider supplementation. But you should consult medical advice before taking any new supplements.
Folate
Folate also is known as vitamin B9 works with vitamin B12 to produce healthy red blood cells. If either vitamin is deficient, it can cause abnormally large red blood cells, a condition called macrocytic anaemia. It’s naturally found in many foods like green leafy vegetables.
Our results show vegans and vegetarians are least likely to develop folate deficiency because they had the lowest percentage of low or borderline low levels. Male and female results were similar, 8.83 and 8.87 per cent, respectively.
Table 3. Folate (B9) status in the UK.
| Age
range |
Reference
range |
Average
result |
% low or
borderline low |
% in lower quartile
of the normal range |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All results | - | 8.83-60.8 | 21.9 | 8.84% | 42% |
| Female | all ages | - | 22.2 | 8.87% | - |
| Males | all ages | - | 21.7 | 8.83% | - |
Source: Forth
What is folate?
Folate is an example of an essential vitamin. In other words, the body is unable to make it and so it must be acquired through the diet. It is naturally present in many foods and folic acid is readily available as a supplement.
In women of reproductive age, folate levels are particularly important because deficiency or just not having enough can cause neural tube defects in children such as spina bifida.
It can also cause megaloblastic anaemia in adults and children because DNA is unable to be made properly and cells don’t divide as they should.
How to improve folate status?
Folate is found in many foods including:
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Peas
- Chickpeas
- Leafy green vegetables
- Liver
- Fortified breakfast cereals
Women who are pregnant, trying for a baby or could get pregnant need to take a 400-microgram supplement every day until 12 weeks pregnant.
How much do vitamin deficiencies cost the NHS?
Vitamin D prescriptions
In 2016, The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition published their recommendations for vitamin D, recommending everyone over 1-years-old needed a reference nutrient intake of 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day.
According to NHS data in June 2014, there were 1.6m prescriptions compared to 2.2m prescriptions in May 2019, an increase of 39%.
Although the overall cost of Vitamin D prescriptions has increased from £7.3m in June 2014 to £8.5m in May 2019, the cost per prescription has decreased.
Vitamin B Prescriptions
NHS data shows that between June 2014 to May 2018 on average there were 418,913 vitamin B (includes both B9 and B12 data), prescriptions each month. On average the NHS spends £1.9m per month on vitamin B prescriptions.
Summary
- Vitamin deficiencies can affect anyone at any age.
- Everyone in the UK is at risk of vitamin D deficiency and should supplement their intake with a supplement containing 10 micrograms.
- Vegans are at a greater risk of vitamin B12 deficiency but are more likely to have adequate folate levels.
- Women who are looking to get pregnant or are pregnant need to supplement their folate intake with a folic acid supplement daily until 12 weeks pregnant.
- Vitamin prescriptions have risen dramatically since 2015.
