The chief medical officers and NICE suggest that social and healthcare professionals should encourage ‘at risk’ groups to use daily supplements to prevent vitamin D deficiency. However, many new and pregnant mothers seem unaware of the benefits.

In a survey sponsored by Colief, 33.5 per cent of 1,000 new and pregnant women ticked ‘I have never been advised by anyone/anything about taking vitamin D’, while 73.3 per cent agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘My GP/health professional has not informed me what the benefits are for vitamin D’.

“Pharmacists and GPs are often the first point of call for new mums with questions they may have about their child’s health, and as part of those conversations they should be recommending regular vitamin D3 supplements,” Jumoke Thomas, a GP in Kent, told Pharmacy Magazine.

“As our research shows, there is a need to educate mums about the benefits of vitamin D for children and themselves.” Sunlight does not include the wavelength needed for skin synthesis of vitamin D in this country between mid-October and the beginning of April. “It is vital that mothers-tobe and parents are aware of the health benefits of vitamin D and give their children a supplement,” Dr Thomas said to PM.

“Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should also be taking vitamin D3 supplements and community pharmacists have a vital role to play in helping to make this happen.”