The poll of healthcare professionals, commissioned by Cow and Gate, found that 66 per cent were unfamiliar with the chief medical officer’s letter in February that restated Government advice that children aged six months to five years should be given a daily supplement of vitamin D2.
The current advice is that children aged six months to five years should take a daily supplement containing vitamin D in the form of vitamin drops.
Despite this, nearly half of healthcare professionals (HCPs) said they always discuss the need for Vitamin D with parents of children under five and 73 per cent talk to parents about how they can increase children’s vitamin D levels through healthy exposure to sunlight and eating a balanced diet.
Nearly 30 per cent said they have been asked more questions about Vitamin D by parents and almost half have had to increase their knowledge of the subject.
The survey also indicated that increased awareness among HCPs appears to be driving diagnosis, with 18 per cent reporting more cases of Vitamin D deficiency in the last 12 months.
When asked what resources would help respondents to feel more knowledgeable about the importance and role of Vitamin D in toddlers, 88 per cent said factsheets would be helpful and 62 per cent would like online training.
Dietician Dr Carrie Ruxton said, ‘Given that fewer than one in ten toddlers receive a supplement and many healthcare professionals remain unsure of vitamin D advice, I recommend a combination approach to boost a child’s vitamin D status through supplementation, safe sun exposure and eating foods high in vitamin D like oily fish and Growing Up Milk.’
- More information on Vitamin D
