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The estimated benefits of vitamin D for Germany
Author(s) -
Zittermann A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.200900494
Subject(s) - vitamin d and neurology , vitamin d deficiency , medicine , vitamin , population , diabetes mellitus , environmental health , sun exposure , physiology , endocrinology , dermatology
Abstract This article gives an overview of the vitamin D status in Germany, provides evidence for an independent association of vitamin D deficiency with various chronic diseases, and discusses preventive measures for improving vitamin D status in Germany. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is 40–45% in the general German population. An additional 15–30% are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D can prevent falls and osteoporotic fractures in older people. There is also accumulating evidence that vitamin D may prevent excess mortality and may probably prevent some chronic diseases that occur in early life such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Adherence to present sun safety policy (avoidance of the sun between 11 am and 3 pm) and dietary recommendations (5–10 μg daily for adults) would, however, definitively lead to vitamin D deficiency. The estimated cost saving effect of improving vitamin D status in Germany might be up to 37.5 billion € annually. It should be the goal of nutrition and medical societies to erase vitamin D deficiency in Germany within the next 5–10 years. To achieve this goal, the daily production of at least 25 μg of vitamin D in the skin or an equivalent oral intake should be guaranteed.