HC Deb 17 January 1997 vol 288 cc411-2W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring he has undertaken of the incidence of(a) anaemia, (b) calcium deficiency and (c) vitamin D deficiency among those aged 0 to 19 years. [11605]

Mr. Horam

The nutritional status of 0 to 19-year-olds has been monitored by the Government's programme of nutrition and health surveys.

(a)Anaemia: The prevalence of anaemia has been monitored among young children by the "National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Children Aged 11/2-441/2 years" published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1995; among those aged 18 to 24 years by the "National Diet and Nutrition Survey of British adults" published by HMSO in 1990, and among 16 to 24 year olds by the 1994 Health Survey for England published by HMSO in 1996. No survey has been analysed in respect of the specific age range 0 to 19 years. The results were as follows:

Prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin below 11.0g/dl)
Males1 Percentage Females2 Percentage
NDNS 1½ to 4½ years 7 9
NDNS British Adults 18–24 years 1 6
Health Survey for England 16–24 years 0.2 2.1
1 1.0 per cent. below 13g/dl.
2 7.7 per cent. below 12g/dl.
(b) Calcium deficiency: There is no clinical condition which can he ascribed to dietary calcium deficiency. (c) Vitamin D deficiency: The NDNS of Children aged 1½ to 4½ years found adequate vitamin D status in the general population. A review of reports of rickets, prepared for the panel on maternal and child nutrition of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy, found sporadic cases of rickets among specific groups who follow inappropriately rigid diets, but no evidence of rickets among the general population.

Vitamin D status has also been measured in the survey, "Asian infant feeding practice". The report is expected to be published later this year. Both the occurrence of anaemia and vitamin D status will be measured in the "National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Young People aged 4 to 18 years", the report of which is expected in 1999. The prevalence of anaemia among 11 to 15 year olds was measured in the "1995 Health Survey for England" which is expected to be published next month.