While cod liver oil, popular in times past, seems like a distant memory associated with strict nurses and spoonfuls of dubious taste, This tonic from centuries past is experiencing renewed interest due to its natural content of vitamins A and D.
Although ancient remedies such as castor oil or fig syrup have fallen into disuse, cod liver oil has endured for its proven benefits against diseases related to vitamin D deficiency, such as rickets.
Today, as the UK faces a rise in the prevalence of this childhood bone disease, government and public health experts are looking at lessons from the past to tackle a vitamin D deficiency that continues to affect a number significant number of people, especially in the winter months, reports the BBC.
Despite its benefits, cod liver oil was difficult to consume in the past due to its strong flavor and the ease with which it oxidized. Over time, the consumption of this supplement decreased, especially when food fortification policies took center stage in the United Kingdom.
For example, in 1940, the country began mandatory fortifying margarine with vitamin D, and the trend expanded to other foods such as bread and cereals. In the United States, food fortification with vitamin D began even earlier, in 1933, and included products such as milk and breakfast cereals. At the international level, Finland adopted a fortification plan in 2003, getting almost all food producers to join the initiative.
Lack of vitamin D affects bone health
Recent analyzes show that almost 40% of British children and 30% of adults have insufficient levels of vitamin D, with figures especially alarming among darker-skinned people.
According to nutritionist Judith Buttriss of the Academy of Nutritional Sciences, “vitamin D deficiency is virtually universal in South Asian communities living in the UK.” Lack of vitamin D has a profound impact on bone health and overall well-being in these populations.
The return of rickets in the United Kingdom has set off alarms among health experts. In 1991, the country barely registered 0.34 cases of rickets per 100,000 people under 15 years of age. However, in the 2000s, rates began to rise sharply, and hospitalizations for rickets are currently the highest they have been in 50 years.
This situation has led experts to rethink public health strategies, considering whether food fortification could be a viable option to prevent new vitamin deficiencies.
As UK winters become increasingly wet, a situation the Met Office says will intensify in the coming decades, challenges around vitamin D could continue to worsen.
The discussion on the reintroduction of fortification policies, together with increased awareness of the importance of supplements, has become an urgent topic. Meanwhile, Cod liver oil remains one of the most effective natural methods to combat vitamin D deficiency, a reminder that, despite its taste, this ancient panacea may still play an essential role in modern health.
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