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After the death of a toddler France takes vitamin D supplements directly from the market
In France, the vitamin D supplement Uvestérol D is taken off the market for safety's sake. Recently, a baby had died after taking the drug. In Germany, the drug has no approval.
Vitamin D preparation is taken off the market as a precaution
Health experts repeatedly point out the importance of preventing vitamin D deficiency. Especially small children are often not sufficiently supplied with the vitamin. One reason for this could be that breast milk apparently contains too little vitamin D. However, giving vitamin D to babies can also be dangerous. In France, after the death of a ten-day-old baby, a vitamin D supplement is temporarily withdrawn from the market.
In France, after the death of an infant, a vitamin D supplement is withdrawn from the market. The risk is based on the method of administration with a pipette. (Image: kavisimi / fotolia.com) Infant dies after taking Uvestérol D
According to a news agency dpa, the French medicines agency ANSM stated that there is likely to be a connection between the use of the drug Uvestérol D and the death of the ten-day-old child due to circulatory arrest in December.
The authorities are said to initiate proceedings as a precautionary measure in order to suspend the sale of the drug.
Patients in Germany do not have to worry because the drug is not approved in Germany, said a spokesman for the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).
Change to alternative preparations
According to the information, the drug was prescribed to children in France for vitamin D deficiency. As explained by the health minister of the country, Marisol Touraine, the risk is based on the method of administration, not on vitamin D itself.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, Uvestérol D is administered with a pipette. Already for years there are warnings that babies can swallow themselves. According to the ANSM, the drug has been on the market since 1990.
So far no death has been recorded in connection with it. Touraine called on parents, however, as a precaution to stop giving their children the remedy and switch to alternative products.
Vitamin D deficiency in winter
"From the average European, vitamin D is ingested only to a small extent (10 - 20%) through the diet. Recent studies in Germany indicate that large parts of the population are not optimally supplied with vitamin D, "says a joint statement by experts from the BfArM and the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL)..
Because we get less sunlight in the winter, it can come especially in the so-called dark season quickly to a vitamin D deficiency.
Since infants should not be exposed to direct sunlight due to the as yet undeveloped skin UV protection mechanism in summer, the "little ones" will receive medicinal products in the form of vitamin D tablets (10 -12.5 μg / day) from the 1st "Week of life until the end of the first year of life in breastfed and non-breastfed infants" used for rickets prophylaxis, says the statement of BfArM and BVL.
"This prophylaxis is recommended until the second experienced early summer." (Ad)