Food News

The Working Group on Food Supplements points out - not entirely altruistically, of course - that there is a higher need for vitamin D in the diet in winter.

Vitamin D is the only vitamin that the human organism can produce itself from precursors that are obtained from food. But it needs sunlight (UV rays) on the skin to do so. In the northern hemisphere, it gets dark early in the winter half of the year and people prefer the comfort of home to summer outdoor activities. And even when you are outside enjoying the winter sun, only little skin is uncovered. The elderly and vegans in particular can become vitamin D deficient.

The vitamin occurs naturally in fatty fish, liver, some edible mushrooms and egg yolks.  Vitamin D supports the immune system and has an influence on bone health via calcium and phosphate metabolism.

Vitamin D supplements are therefore booming right now. But be careful - too much of the "sun vitamin" can be just as harmful as a deficiency.

The correct dosage of the products is therefore important, and in this context the product specifications should be checked for the legally prescribed maximum permissible amounts as well as for compliance with the composition advertised on the label.

Consumers should therefore be cautious about suspiciously cheap products from internet shops and of dubious origin and rather rely on branded products of European manufacturers from drugstores and pharmacies. (FM)

YOUR PLUS: The AGROLAB LUFA vitamin specialists in Kiel check food supplements for correct composition and labelling. We are experts in determining all vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger