Actions urged to combat widespread European vitamin D deficiencies

It said measurement of adequate vitamin D intakes needed greater harmonisation to assist governments in implementing policies to tackle an issue that has been linked to a return of rickets and other health issues.

“The ongoing standardisation of measurements in vitamin D research will facilitate a stronger evidence base on which policies can be determined,”​ the researchers wrote.

“These policies may include promotion of dietary recommendations, food fortification, vitamin D supplementation and judicious sun exposure, but should take into account national, cultural and dietary habits.”​

“For European nations with supplementation policies, it is important that relevant parties ensure satisfactory uptake of these particularly in the most vulnerable groups of the population.”​

On Finland, the research that was backed by Kellogg’s and published in the British Nutrition Foundation’s journal Nutrition, ​concluded, “…​national policies that include fortification and supplementation, coupled with a high habitual intake of oil-rich fish, have resulted in an increase in vitamin D intakes…”​

Source:

Nutrition​

First published 30 September 2014 (DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12108)

‘Vitamin D: An overview of vitamin D status and intake in Europe’​

Authors:A. Spiro, J. L. Buttriss