BBC News reports on an editorial in the Journal of Medical Screening in which the author notes an increase in cases of rickets in infants and children on both sides of the Atlantic as a result of vitamin D deficiency in the mothers during pregnancy. The editorial describes cases of seizures, heart failure and rickets in children whose mothers were vitamin D deficient. The author suggests that it is time to investigate whether we should be screening pregnant women with a blood test, focussing initially on those most at risk. The BBC story notes that people with darker skin and women, who cover up for cultural or religious reasons, are at particular risk of deficiency.

The BBC article also highlights a study carried out in inner city Birmingham which found that almost one in two Asian women were vitamin D deficient. The level was found to be one in three in the wider Asian community, one in four in the black population and one in eight among Caucasians. Speaking to BBC news, one of the study authors said that some local GPs are already screening pregnant women from the Asian community, although no formal protocol exists. He said, “Screening in selected populations is currently the way forward, but clearly it is very difficult for the NHS to test everyone. We are seeing a big increase in demand from the 'worried well'."

A spokesperson for the Department of Health (DH) in England told BBC News: “All pregnant women are advised to take Vitamin D supplements. Our priority is to ensure health professionals provide consistent advice and implement the current recommendations." The DH has asked the scientific advisory committee to review the evidence on vitamin D requirements for different population groups.