Ask the Experts: The importance of vitamin D

I want to include a piece in our parents' newsletter about the importance of vitamin D. Got any ideas?

Vitamin D is essential for healthy growth. The lack of it is serious for us all, but especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women; babies and young children under five; the over-65s; people not exposed to much sun, such as those who are housebound or confined indoors for long periods; and people who have darker skin such as those of African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin.

Ninety per cent of vitamin D comes from the summer sun. Only 10 per cent comes from the food we eat. Good food sources are: oily fish, such as salmon, sardines and mackerel; eggs; fortified fat spreads; fortified breakfast cereals; and powdered milk.

So take children out in the sun wearing a hat whenever we have sun.

However, as we get less sun, top up the sunshine with vitamin D drops. Children should take Vitamin D until they are five. Ask your local health visitor or public health nurse for more information. Check out websites such as www.healthystart.nhs.uk.

June O'Sullivan is chief executive of the childcare charity and social enterprise, the London Early Years Foundation

Email questions, marked "Experts", to cypnow@markallengroup.com