An update on UK Vitamin D intakes and status, and issues for food fortification and supplementation

Vitamin D is unique among the essential nutrients in that it can be made in the body via exposure of the skin to sunlight. There are few rich sources of vitamin D in the diet. Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones and deficiency of vitamin D causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. In the UK, there is evidence that low vitamin D status is prevalent in the population and older adults living in institutions are particularly at risk. There are two forms of vitamin D that can be added to foods and drinks: vitamin D ₂ and D ₃. They have somewhat different structures, and there are some differences in the way they are metabolised by the body. Overall, the evidence for the relative effectiveness of vitamin D ₂ vs. D ₃ is mixed, and more studies are needed to provide a clearer picture. However, there does seem to be some indication that D ₃ is more effective than D ₂ in raising vitamin D status.