Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the proportion of people who are deficient in essential vitamins and minerals.

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) provides information on intakes of vitamins and minerals and blood indicators of status.

Latest NDNS data (2014/15-2015/16) show that mean vitamin D intakes were a fifth to a third of the recommended amount in all age groups, and low blood vitamin D levels were seen in 26% of older children (11-18 years) and 17% of adults (19-64 years).

Low blood folate levels, indicating risk of anaemia, were found in 28% of older girls, 15% of older boys and 7% of adults.

54% of older girls and 27% of adult women had low iron intakes, and iron deficiency based on blood samples was found in 9% of older girls and 5% of adult women.

There was also evidence of low intakes of vitamin A, riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, potassium and selenium in some age groups.

Results of the NDNS are available to view at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-diet-and-nutrition-survey