Once considered a staple health tonic in households across the UK, cod liver oil — rich in vitamins D and A — is making a case for a comeback. This time, it’s backed by alarming data on a public health issue once thought to be resolved: the resurgence of rickets, a bone disease largely linked to vitamin D deficiency.
Centuries-old remedies often fall by the wayside, dismissed as outdated or unpleasant. But cod liver oil, with its notorious fishy taste, is a rare exception. It served as a lifeline for many young children in the early 20th century, particularly during the Second World War when the UK government distributed free doses to children under five. This was an early attempt to combat vitamin D deficiencies in a country where sunlight, the primary natural source of vitamin D, is often scarce.
Historically, the UK took measures to bolster vitamin D intake, such as fortifying margarine, bread, and milk. However, complications arose when some children developed hypercalcaemia, a potentially harmful condition from excess calcium in the blood. As a result, food fortification efforts were largely abandoned in the UK by the 1950s, leaving margarine and baby formula as the few exceptions.
With more precise blood testing available today, research shows that nearly 40% of children in the UK are deficient in vitamin D during the darker winter months. Public health experts warn that individuals with darker skin tones, particularly those of South Asian descent, are at greater risk. Current data even reveal a marked increase in rickets hospitalizations, now at a five-decade high. This resurgence has led the UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to reconsider fortification as a public health strategy.
Health experts argue that cod liver oil, despite its taste, could once again serve as a practical solution to address vitamin D deficiencies. With advancements in supplement production, tasteless capsules or improved oil formulations could offer a modern twist to a tried-and-true remedy, potentially averting further health consequences tied to low vitamin D levels.
As the debate on fortification continues, cod liver oil stands as a simple, accessible option that could, once again, help safeguard public health.
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