UK primary school children know more about vitamins than adults, according to a new survey.
An analysis of separate polls of 2,000 adults and 1,000 children aged 6 to 16 revealed that children scored higher than adults on most questions.
The survey found that 20% of young people knew there were 13 vitamins, compared with just 5% of adults.
Additionally, 38% of elementary school students knew that the body can produce vitamin D naturally, compared with 31% of adults.
Additionally, children are more aware that Vitamin D aids in bone growth and Vitamin A improves eyesight.
According to a study by health food company Plenish, vitamins C and D boost the immune system.
Emily English, a specialist dietitian who teams up with the company as its “chief nutrition officer”, said: “This research highlights a significant knowledge gap among UK adults about the importance of vitamins and how to take them.”
“As a nutritionist, I see the consequences of vitamin deficiencies every day and urge adults to increase their knowledge about essential vitamins.
“Incorporating these vitamins into your daily routine is easy — just eat a balanced diet, aim for your five vitamins a day, and add in a booster vitamin shot.”
To combat this lack of knowledge, Plenish set up the Little Shot Shop on London’s Portobello Road, staffed by children.
The children shared important vitamin and nutritional information with passersby and quizzed adults about their vitamin knowledge.
The survey also revealed that children are more confident in their vitamin knowledge: 37% of pre-teens compared with 24% of teens.
The gap extends to other areas of nutrition, with more than a quarter of adults (27%) incorrectly believing broccoli is a protein.
Additionally, one in ten (9%) believe ketchup is one of the foods they eat five times a day.
Additionally, 24 percent have never heard of the World Health Organization’s “five meals a day” campaign.
Two in ten (21%) believed tomatoes were a vegetable, and 36% were unaware that ginger is made from a root.
For those wanting to educate themselves on vitamins, Plenish has launched a vitamin quiz so Brits can find out if they’re smarter than their kids at www.penishdrinks.com/vitaminquiz
