Dr. Daniel McCartney:

I thank Senator Black for what is an interesting question. We know that iron deficiency is very common in the Irish population, particularly in young women. We know that around 50% of young Irish women do not have sufficient amounts of iron in their diet. The research I have conducted with the Coombe Hospital suggests that about 3% to 4% of those women when they present for their first antenatal visit in early pregnancy have frank iron deficiency. That is worrying because it has an impact on the outcome of those pregnancies. There are other reasons, apart from the immunity aspect, that are important in terms of iron nutrition across the population.

I am aware of Professor O'Neill's study and perhaps Professor Kenny will comment on it too. A number of nutrients are suspect across the Irish population so while we are talking about vitamin D today, Dr. Healy for example will tell us that magnesium is a very important nutrient in terms of biologically activating vitamin D in the body. A proportion of people have low magnesium levels in the population, including people who over-consume alcohol, some older people and hospitalised patients. That might be an issue as well. Zinc and selenium are also important nutrients for immunity.

To focus in on vitamin D and iron, we see a high prevalence of deficiency in vitamin D right across the population, in men and women, young and old, among immigrant populations and populations of Irish ethnicity. Vitamin D deficiency is ubiquitous but I take the Senator's point that iron deficiency is an issue that needs to be addressed among our female population in particular and also among our elderly. Professor Walsh and Professor Kenny will also have a view on that.