As December sees the UK’s shortest day, the British Nutrition Foundation says it is important to raise awareness of vitamin D supplementation. 

Government advice is to consider taking a vitamin D supplement containing 10mcg daily during the autumn and winter months but, according to a new British Nutrition Foundation YouGov survey, more than two-thirds of adults are not aware of the recommendation to take the supplement between October and March. 

This lack of awareness rises to 78 per cent in young adults aged between 18-24 – a time of life when bone health is particularly important.

“The latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey data shows that one in six people in the UK have low vitamin D levels in their blood,” says Sara Stanner, BNF science director.

“Looking at the proportion of people who are even aware of this recommendation, there is still much to be done to raise awareness that we all consider taking a 10mcg supplement during the autumn and winter months.”