Vitamin D supplements in the test Many popular products are not recommended - some even a risk

Sun Vitamin D: Where there is light is also shadow

In the darker season, many people yearn for more sunshine. The rays not only brighten up the mind, but the body produces with the help of the sun's rays about 80 to 90 percent of the total vitamin D requirement of itself. Excess vitamin D is thereby stored in the fat and muscle tissue. From this reservoir we feed in winter. Many consumers believe that these supplies are insufficient and therefore resort to vitamin D supplements. deal?

Professor Manfred Schubert-Zsilavecz from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Frankfurt recently evaluated 21 vitamin D supplements on behalf of the Öko Test Verlag GmbH with regard to their suitability as dietary supplements. He found that many preparations are too high doses. "People who take in their own long-term too high doses, risk not only disorders of calcium metabolism and bone health, but also kidney damage," writes Öko Test to the test result.

Vitamin D supplements are really only useful for a few people. An overdose is even considered harmful. Generally a shortage should be determined by a doctor. (Image: monropic / fotolia.com)

More does not always mean better

Most healthy people largely cover the need for vitamin D via the sun and, to a lesser extent, through the diet. "Vitamin D supplements are usually superfluous," stresses Öko-Test. The verdict: Of the 21 tested agents, four received the test rating "very good", one supplement rated "good", six achieved "satisfactory". Öko-Test advises against ten vitamin D pills.

In general, a clarification should be made with the family doctor

However, the recommendations of the publisher apply primarily to those who had their vitamin D levels examined by a doctor and who received a recommendation for taking the supplements. Healthy persons without deficiency symptoms are advised against taking them on their own, as an overdose could damage bones and lead to calcium metabolic disorders as well as kidney damage.

When to talk about a vitamin D deficiency?

Dietary supplements with vitamin D are not recommended for all people, experts also say the Apothekerkammer Niedersachsen. But for whom is an additional intake of vitamin D supplements suitable? The Robert Koch Institute only recommends taking supplements if there is actually a vitamin D deficiency. Such a deficiency would also be accompanied by clinically relevant symptoms such as decalcification of the bones, skeletal deformities in children (rickets), osteomalacia (bone softening) in adults and muscle and bone pain (osteoporosis). However, this is only the case for a few people. Insufficient supply should not be equated with a defect. But this mistake is used specifically for advertising message.

How much vitamin D does a person need??

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the German Nutrition Society give an estimate of adequate vitamin D intake at around 20 micrograms per day. This value was also set in the test as the maximum amount that should contain a preparation. In eight of the supplements tested this value was significantly exceeded.

These vitamin D medicines are recommended

Four remedies received the test result "very good". All funds in this category are prescription and therefore not freely available. They are used to prevent deficiency diseases in people who have been diagnosed with a critically low vitamin D level. According to Öko-Test, these medicines are also suitable for the supportive treatment of osteoporosis. These are the medications:

• Mibe: Dekristol 1000 Vitamin D3,
• Merck: Vigantol 1000 I.E. Vitamin D3,
• Wörwag: Vitagamma Vitamin D3 1.000,
• Hexal: Vitamin D-Sandoz 1,000.

Good with restrictions

Basically, the vitamin D3 tablets by Hevert are recommended. However, Öko-Test complains that the package leaflet mentions vitamin D as a preventative measure for cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and diabetes. This relationship is not sufficiently documented by studies and leads to uncertainty among consumers. Therefore, there was a valuation deduction, which led to the judgment "good".

Better leave these products on the shelf

In general, Öko-Test's over-the-counter products are rated "satisfactory" at best, as they do not bring much benefit to consumers. However, two remedies are particularly negative. The preparations "Doppelherz Aktiv Vitamin D 1700 I.E. Extra "and" Tetesept Vitamin D3 High Dose 1700, Mini Tablets "contain over 40 micrograms of vitamin D. That's more than twice the recommended daily maximum. The test verdict is thus "insufficient". (Vb)