One in four UK adults are deficient in vitamin D, with older people, infants, pregnant/breastfeeding women, and those with darker skin most at risk. This was revealed at a Food Supplement Special Interest Group meeting attended by nutritionists and dieticians. Vitamin D helps absorb calcium, supports the immune system, and regulates muscle function, but many do not get enough from sunlight or food between October and March. Supplements are recommended, especially for at-risk groups such as the elderly, 86.6% of whom living at home and 93.9% in care have insufficient vitamin D levels.

1. MEDILINK’S FOOD SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL
INTEREST GROUP REVEALS UK POPULATION AT RISK OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
One in four adults in the UK are deficient in Vitamin D, it was revealed at a Food
Supplement Special Interest Group (SIG) held at MediCity, Nottingham this week.
Groups most at risk are older people, infants and young children, pregnant and
breast-feeding mothers and those with darker skin.
This was the second in a series of events concerning the population’s nutritional
intake and was attended by the region’s leading nutritionists and dieticians from the
world of academia, the NHS and manufacturing. The event was hosted by Medilink
East Midlands, the region’s life science industry association and consult2deliver
limited, and was funded by the Healthcare and Bioscience iNet.
Speaking at the event Nick Bennett, Head of New Product Development at Brunel
Healthcare and leading nutritionist commented:
“Vitamin D is a hormone like substance that assists the body absorb calcium,
supports the immune system, regulates sugar and helps maintain healthy muscle
function. It is generally understood that the vitamin is created in the body by
sunlight, and indeed it is the sun’s rays on the skin that triggers the conversion of
cholesterol in the skin to Vitamin D3.
However, for the world’s population living in the northern hemisphere anywhere
north of Madrid the sunlight is not strong enough, nor of the right wavelength, to
trigger synthesis of the vitamin in the skin from October to March, which leaves a
shortfall in the vital production of this vitamin.”
According to Public Health England (PHE)* it is also difficult to get enough Vitamin D
from food alone, which is naturally found in oily fish, eggs, meat and some breakfast
cereal. This in combination with the lack of sunlight suggests supplementing the diet
especially during the winter months is beneficial for health.
The current levels of Vitamin D which the Department of Health recommends
supplementing on a daily basis, is between 7-8.5mcg for children and 10mcg per day
for adults at risk of deficiency.

2. Professor Tahir Masud, from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust linked
Vitamin D deficiencies to poor neuromuscular functions and the increased likelihood
of falls and fractures in the over 65 population, he commented:
“Research that forms part of a public health survey for England indicates that the
elderly population is one of the highest groups at risk from Vitamin D deficiencies,
with 86.6% of those living at home and 93.9% of those living in care falling short of
the recommended levels of the vitamin in their systems.
There is also a correlation in some research indicating a higher level of falls and bone
factures in people with inadequate Vitamin D reserves in their bodies i.e. less than
75 nmol/L.
Evidence also suggests a combined supplementation programme of calciumand
Vitamin D might help reduce the risks of falls and fractures, with Vitamin D being
believed to help promote both balance and neuromuscular health.”
The purpose of the Food Supplement Special Interest Group, co-founded by Medilink
East Midlands, Janet Worrell, Director of consult2deliver, and Nick Bennett of Brunel
Healthcare is to open a forum of debate around the subject of food supplements,
and address some of the pertinent health issues associated with diet, nutrition and
associated health issues.
The next SIG will take place on 2 July at Medicity and will focus on digestive health
issues.
*https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/f
ile/390394/A5_Vitamin_leaflet_public_FINAL_22_12_14.pdf
For further information visit www.medilinkem.com
ENDS
For further media information contact:
Lauraine Jordan, Trumpet Public Relations:
Tel: 01332 553 873 07904 257 687
Lauraine@trumpetpr.co.uk

3. Medilink East Midlands is the region’s life science industry association, whose aim is
to help companies establish, develop and grow.
Its network of more than 3,400 contacts in over 600 organisations represents all
aspects of the sector, including private and public institutions; from multinationals to
high potential start-ups, as well as the NHS and universities.
Medilink East Midlands is a founding member of Medilink UK; a national network
supporting over 3,000 companies across the entire UK.
Medilink provides specialist support to boost the region’s economic output from life
sciences by overcoming barriers to growth. Medilink’s highly knowledgeable team is
a proven and trusted source of expert assistance.
Specialist services include:
 Sector-specific business and innovation information
 Advice and guidance
 Skills training
 Access to business and knowledge networks
 Market access support (both domestic and international)
 R&D collaboration opportunities
About the Healthcare and Bioscience iNet
The Healthcare and Bioscience iNet is an initiative, which is part-financed by the
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and delivered by Medilink East
Midlands. A key aim of the iNet is to provide a sector-specific focus that enables
organisations to exchange knowledge, form collaborations to develop new
technologies, processes, products and services in order to build a healthy economy.
About ERDF in the East Midlands
The Healthcare & Bioscience iNet project is part financed by the Structural Funds for
the East Midlands Region of the European Regional Development Fund Programme
2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the
managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme,
which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local
areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will
support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit
www.communities.gov.uk/erdf