A look at separate surveys of 2,000 adults and 1,000 children between the ages of six and 16 revealed that younger generations outperformed older generations on most questions.
The study found that 20% of adolescents knew there were 13 vitamins, compared with just 5% of adults, and that 38% of elementary school children knew that the body can produce vitamin D naturally, compared with only 31% of adults.
Additionally, children were more aware of the benefits of vitamin D for bone growth and vitamin A for improving eyesight, and also understood that vitamins C and D boost the immune system, according to a survey conducted by health food company Plenish.
“This research highlights a significant knowledge gap among UK adults about the importance of vitamins and how to take them,” said Emily English, a specialist dietitian who has joined the company as Plenish’s “chief nutrition officer”.
“As a nutritionist, I see the daily consequences of vitamin deficiencies and strongly encourage adults to educate themselves on essential vitamins. Incorporating these vitamins into your daily routine is easy: eat a balanced diet and aim to take your five vitamins a day or add in a fortified vitamin shot.”
To address this lack of awareness, Plenish set up a “Little Shot Shop” on London’s Portobello Road, staffed by children who imparted vital vitamin and nutritional information to passersby and tested adults’ vitamin knowledge.
The survey also found that more children are confident about their vitamin knowledge – 37% compared to 24% of adults. The gap extends to other areas of nutrition, with more than a quarter of adults (27%) mistakenly thinking broccoli is a protein, and one in ten (9%) believing ketchup is one of the five foods they eat a day.
Additionally, 24% had never even heard of the World Health Organisation’s ‘five meals a day’ campaign. Two in ten (21%) believed tomatoes were a vegetable, and 36% did not know that ginger comes from a root.
For those wanting to educate themselves on vitamins, Plenish has launched a vitamin quiz that could reveal whether Brits are smarter than their kids.
