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Everyone in the UK should consider taking vitamin D supplements to counter the lack of sunshine, according to new draft Government guidelines.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has recommended that everyone from age one could benefit from taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D, the so-called 'sunshine vitamin', in order to safeguard against deficiency.

Currently, only at-risk groups, including pregnant women, children under five and people aged over 65, are advised to take the supplements.

However, due to the UK's northern latitude and bleak weather, millions of people could be at risk of deficiency. Public Health England data calculates that one in five adults and one in six children have low levels of vitamin D.

Sunlight is the main source of the vitamin, and only small amounts are absorbed from food.

The annoucement follows recent NICE guidance which called for free vitamin D supplements to be more readily available to those at risk of deficiency.

The proposal will be consulted until 23 September.