A large study of 3,000 babies born in the West Midlands has revealed that a third of all babies, black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) babies, are deficient in vitamin D, underlining the potential shortfall of current ANTENatal supplements in The UK.

Vitamin D(sometimes called the "sunshine vitamin") helps the body absorb calcium and phosphate from the diet, making it essential for healthy bones, teeth and muscles.Vitamin D deficiency in newborns can not only lead to soft and weak bones, but can also lead to serious life-threatening complications such as seizures, severe heart disease and even death in the first months of life.Because dietary sources of vitamin D are low, supplementary programmes are in place to ensure adequate vitamin D intake among high-risk groups, including pregnant women and children.

The latest study, led by experts from the University of Birmingham and the Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, analysed vitamin D levels in 3,000 dried blood samples taken through heel stings in the first week of life as part of the screening process at the nation's blood points for newborns.Strategically collect samples at the end of summer and winter to capture peaks and troughs in vitamin D levels.Vitamin D levels were analyzed along with race, gestational age, maternal age, and deprivation index.Vitamin D deficiency, insufficient and adequate infant proportions were assessed according to birth season and race.

The majority of newborn babies tested were white British (59.1 per cent) and were born at full term.Vitamin D deficiency is present in 35% of the population.The results also showed significant seasonal differences, with 52.6 per cent of winter babies suffering from vitamin D deficiency compared with 18.4 per cent of summer-born babies.Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of the babies tested were from areas with high levels of social poverty.

Perhaps most important is the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among ethnic groups.Compared with white British babies, black, Asian and mixed-race babies, as well as non-white British babies, have significantly lower vitamin levels.Overall, almost half of the babies from Asian and black ethnic backgrounds were found to be vitamin D deficient (47.7 per cent and 47.4 per cent respectively) over the two seasons, compared with 30.3 per cent of white British babies.Across the multi-ethnic population, nearly 70 per cent of infants had low levels of vitamin D, meaning two-thirds of those tested were deficient or inadequate.

Lead author Dr Suma Uday, of the University of Birmingham and Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, said: "Vitamin D deficiency is common in all babies born in the UK, especially during the winter months.The high proportion of dark-skinned babies with low levels of vitamin D suggests that the UK's national prenatal supplement programme may be failing to protect these ethnic groups, who may be considered at high risk for vitamin D deficiency.We need to work to improve the link between provision and vitamin intake among high-risk groups, such as expectant mothers with BAME backgrounds."

Senior author Professor Wolfgang Hoegler, from the Institute of Metabolism and Systems at the University of Birmingham, said: "Our results suggest that a vitamin D supplementation programme, if implemented and monitored like the immunisation programme, could be significantly improved.Food fortification is easier and more effective.Vitamin D- a method that has been successful in other high-latitude countries, such as Finland."