Should foods with vitamin D be enriched in many cases?

Dangerous deficiency: Scientist recommends vitamin D fortification in food

Vitamin D deficiency occurs in the most diverse population groups. The important vitamin in the skin is mainly formed by a chemical reaction with sunlight. But the lifestyle in this country is often accompanied by a very low exposure to sunlight. Therefore, a scientist now demands the fortification of foods with vitamin D..

Common vitamin D deficiency

Only a few months ago, it was reported that about 60 percent of children and adolescents in Germany have more or less depressed levels of vitamin D. In addition, one study showed that about half of the over 65s are affected by vitamin D deficiency. In general, the vitamin D supply in Germany is considered deficient. Some people therefore rely on the additional intake of vitamin D supplements. However, according to health experts, such funds are only recommended for a few people. A scientist from Austria now recommends enriching foods with the important vitamin.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a number of disorders of the bones, muscles and a weak immune system. A researcher now recommends enriching various foods with the important vitamin. (Image: bit24 / fotolia.com)

Dietary intake only in low concentrations

Also in neighboring Austria, vitamin D deficiency is very common in all population groups and can subsequently cause a number of diseases.

Vitamin D is mainly formed in the skin through a chemical reaction with sunlight.

According to a statement from the Medical University of Graz, the vitamin can only be absorbed through the diet due to the low concentration in very small quantities.

Therefore, some countries have already implemented an enrichment of foods with vitamin D.

Stefan Pilz from the University of Graz also urgently recommends this for Austria.

Lifestyle with low sun exposure

Because vitamin D can only be absorbed through the diet in small quantities (about 20 percent) - especially in the form of fatty fish, dairy products and edible mushrooms - the body's own production of vitamin D plays a chemical skin reaction a very important role.

"Around 80% of the vitamin D requirement is generated by the body itself with the help of UV-B radiation," explains Assoz.-Prof. PD Dr. Stefan Pilz, PhD of the Clinical Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology of the University of Graz.

Therefore, it is sufficient in the warm months to soak up the sun. But in the cold season, this is hardly possible.

In addition, many people spend too little time outdoors, even in sunny weather. Vitamin D deficiency is therefore a very common phenomenon.

"Our lifestyle, which is associated with a very low exposure to sunlight, is mainly responsible for this sometimes very dangerous deficiency," says Stefan Pilz.

Diseases due to vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D is responsible in the body, for example, for a well-functioning calcium balance, the immune system or even the hormone system.

An imbalance in the calcium balance caused by vitamin D deficiency can lead to diseases of the bones and the musculature.

In addition, more frequently occurring infections and pregnancy complications or, in the case of very immunocompromised persons, death consequences can be attributed to a vitamin D deficiency.

"Vitamin D has the same effect as thyroid and sex hormones or steroid hormones in the entire body and controls many genes there," says Pilz. Therefore, a balanced vitamin D household is also particularly important.

Taking vitamin D supplements

Some people therefore rely on the intake of vitamin D supplements. However, this should always be discussed with the family doctor.

However, such dietary supplements are not advisable for all people, warned experts at the Apothekerkammer Niedersachsen.

And the drug commission of the German medical profession (AkdÄ) pointed out that it can also lead to an overdose with vitamin D supplements.

Systematic fortification of food

In some countries, such as the US, Canada, India or Finland, you go in different directions. There, a systematic fortification of various foods with vitamin D has been introduced to address the dangerous deficiency.

Stefan Pilz, together with international colleagues, has published a so-called "Guidance Paper" in the journal "Frontiers in Endocrinology", in which the scientifically-based motives for vitamin D fortification in the food industry are presented and, above all, concrete proposals and scenarios for their implementation health policy measure.

Within the European Union, Finland began to systematically enrich dairy products with vitamin D several years ago.

"This policy-initiated intervention was not only safe and well-accepted, but also led to almost no people in the Finnish population lacking vitamin D with levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D below 12 ng / mL (30 nmol / L), "explains Stefan Pilz.

"In countries such as. Austria and Germany is a vitamin D fortification in food as in Finland a necessary and appropriate measure for me to save many people the negative health consequences of vitamin D deficiency, "said the expert.

"Countries such as. The US is making vitamin D fortification in food, not just because of improving public health, but also because it cuts healthcare costs in terms of cost effectiveness, "the researcher explains.

He hopes that their publication will help ensure that this will be the case in Austria and Germany in the future. (Ad)