Millions of UK adults and children could be facing an increased risk of infections this winter due to consistently low nutrient intakes, according to a new scientific review by the Health and Food Supplements Information Service (HSIS) entitled British Dietary Habits and Declining Nutrient Intakes.
The review also highlighted a significant lack of folate, also known as folic acid, in many women’s diets, which is crucial for protecting developing babies from spina bifida, a serious neural tube defect.
Dr Pamela Mason, nutritionist and co-author of the research review, said: “Our in-depth analysis revealed sizeable shortfalls in intakes of essential micronutrients across the UK. Besides the worrying findings on folic acid, a range of other nutrients were affected, many of which are key in helping to protect us from common illnesses, especially winter bugs.”
She added: “Notable examples are vitamin D, iron, zinc and selenium. As it takes time and effort to get our diets back on track, we suggest that people top up with a daily multivitamin and multimineral supplement.”
To arrive at their conclusions, the authors of the study assessed data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey and included insights from a 2024 real-world survey involving 1,000 participants, which examined public knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding vitamins, minerals, diet, nutrient intake and supplementation.
Dr Gill Jenkins, a GP and co-author of recent research, highlighted significant public confusion around healthy eating, revealing: “The respondents polled in the new real-world research commissioned by HSIS knew the importance of a healthy diet, but the majority (80%) were really confused about what healthy eating means for them. Indeed, nearly half (48%) had no idea about the recommended daily intake levels of nutrients.”
Vitamin D
Coining the term ‘D for deficiency’, Dr Mason expressed concern over widespread vitamin D shortages, stating: “Overall, one in five people in the UK are clinically deficient in vitamin D. And yet vitamin D is essential for optimal immunity, healthy bones and teeth and muscle function.”
Adding to the conversation, Dr Jenkins pointed out: “Sunshine, rather than food, is the main source of vitamin D during the summer. However, over the winter, it’s hard to get enough vitamin D from the diet. Government experts recommend that everyone over the age of one year should take a daily 10 microgram supplement of vitamin D.”
Vitamin D supplements, which typically cost just over 2p per tablet at many shops and supermarkets, have been spotlighted for their health benefits in a 2024 meta-analysis by Italian researchers. The study concluded that taking vitamin D reduces the risk of Covid infections by 60%, with results demonstrating a “definitive and significant association between the protective role of vitamin D and COVID-19 incidence and [intensive care unit] admission”.
Minerals are currently in short supply
Iron is crucial for the production of haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Symptoms of mild iron deficiency include fatigue, lack of energy, brain fog and shortness of breath.
The NHS warns: “If iron deficiency anaemia is left untreated, it can make you more susceptible to illness and infection.”
More severe iron deficiency can lead to symptoms such as heart palpitations, hair thinning, brittle nails, itchy skin and mouth ulcers or sores. Dr Jenkins expressed concern, stating: “It’s a real concern that half ( 49%) of girls aged 1118 years and a quarter of women don’t get enough iron in the diet which increases their risk of iron deficiency anaemia.”
Zinc also plays numerous roles within the body. It is essential for growth and development during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood.
For all age groups, zinc is crucial for normal immunity and is often used in higher doses to combat cold symptoms.
Dr Mason warned: “Zinc deficiency can lead to a range of health problems, including slowed growth, reduction in the secretion of sex hormones in males, alopecia (hair loss), and psychiatric disorders. That’s why it’s worrying that children and young people, in particular, are showing signs of low intakes.”
Indeed, 18% of 11 to 18 year olds, and 11% of four to 10 year olds have zinc intakes below the minimum needed for health. Iodine is crucial for producing thyroid hormone, vital for baby growth and brain development, with a shortage in expecting mothers leading to developmental delays in their infants.
Dr Mason expressed concern about the nutritional gap among young women, revealing: “The proportion of teen girls who don’t even get the minimum amount of iodine from the diet has risen from a fifth (19%) to a third (28%). These are the next generation of mums-to-be so we need to ensure they’re getting the correct nutrition. Adult women also have low iodine intakes. The issue is probably linked to low consumption of dairy foods and fish due to the plant-based diet trend.”
Selenium, essential for reproduction, thyroid regulation, DNA upkeep, and defence against oxidative stress and infections, is another nutrient lacking in many diets, per a recent UK survey indicating that four in 10 (41%) teenage girls and two-thirds (66%) of adult women could face selenium deficiency. With its critical benefits for immunity, it’s highlighted as yet another dietary element Brits should focus on consuming sufficiently.
Pregnancy risks
Another point of concern identified by researchers was folic acid – known as folate when found in food which plays a vital role in cell division, production of red blood cells, and brain functions. Its deficiency may lead to fatigue, weakness, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite.
Dr Jenkins expressed concern about the health of expectant mothers: “Women throughout their reproductive lives, particularly when planning a pregnancy and for the first three months of pregnancy, are recommended to take a daily 400 microgram folic acid supplement to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. It’s worrying, then, that two thirds of women in the UK are not taking a folic acid supplement before pregnancy. Additionally, repeated surveys have found that, in women of childbearing age, blood levels of folate fell by a fifth.”
Adding to this, Dr Mason highlighted a troubling trend: “We analysed the proportion of women aged 16 to 49 years with red blood cell folate levels below the threshold for increased risk of neural tube defects in pregnancy, which is 748 nmol/L. Our analysis revealed that the proportion of women with dangerously low folate levels rose from two thirds to almost 90% over a period of 15 years.”
Wrapping up, Dr Mason stated: “In theory, most of the vitamins and minerals we need can be obtained from a healthy diet. But our findings reveal that this is not happening in real life. With winter approaching a time of increased transmission of colds, flu and gastrointestinal viruses it’s crucial for people to supercharge their diets with immune-supporting nutrients as well as making sure their daily dietary habits are in good shape for all seasons. A simple way to bridge the gap is for everyone to take a multivitamin and multimineral supplement all year round to ensure their health and wellness is not short of vital nutrients like vitamin D, Zinc, Iron, Selenium, Iodine, B vitamins, Vitamin C and more.”