Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of vitamin D guidelines on maternal and infant health outcomes in Black and South Asian communities.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) is currently conducting a rapid review of whether current vitamin D recommendations for vitamin D intake and status are adequate for Black and South Asian communities. The review includes infants, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The SACN is reviewing relevant evidence and discussions are ongoing. The SACN aims to publish conclusions of the review later in 2026.

Advice for everyone, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, to consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter is available on the National Health Service website. For people at risk of not receiving enough vitamin D during the summer months, including those with African, African-Caribbean, or South Asian backgrounds, the Government recommends they consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year. For all children aged between one and four years old, and all babies, unless they are having more than 500 millilitres of infant formula a day, the Government recommends they should take a daily supplement throughout the year.