Around a third of Germans supplement their diet with vitamin tablets. With some vitamins this can be useful, others should not be taken.
Frankfurt – Tablets can help to take the necessary vitamins. Especially people who do not like certain foods or do without them for other reasons can benefit from the tablets as a helpful supplement. Basically, most Germans are adequately supplied with vitamins, like from a Study by the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) emerges.
“We have two vitamins for which we have found that there is an undersupply,” said Gerhard Rechkemmer, professor at the Max Rubner Institute in Karlsruhe Deutschlandfunk. It’s about vitamin D and folic acid. Vitamin D is obtained naturally, primarily from the sun. By Food is vitamin D hardly to take. However, that doesn’t mean you have to supplement. It should only be taken after medical advice. Then Vitamin D tablets can also harm the body.
Not all vitamin tablets should be taken
Folic acid, also known as “baby vitamin”, is particularly important for pregnant women. The vitamin is said to protect unborn children from deformities in the spine and spinal cord. Folic acid is mainly found in green vegetables and legumes. It is particularly important for blood formation, cell division and growth processes pharmacy magazine. However, many Germans are deficient in this vitamin, writes the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment BfR. It can therefore make sense to support this with tablets.
Vegans should also pay attention to vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is particularly important for the functioning of the nervous system, reports the NDR. Vegans have a harder time getting enough of the vitamin through their diet, as it is mainly found in animal products. For people who eat vegan, it is therefore often worth using vitamin B12 tablets.
There are a few Symptoms indicative of a vitamin B12 deficiency indicate.
Incorrect intake of vitamin tablets can harm health
Around a third of the population in Germany takes food supplements at least once a week, a study revealed Survey of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment BfR. These include vitamins A, C and E, as well as multivitamin and vitamin B2. Experts advise against taking supplements, as these vitamins are sufficiently available in food. “With a balanced and varied diet, the body receives almost all vitamins in sufficient quantities. Dietary supplements are unnecessary for most people,” says Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR.
Excessive and unnecessary consumption of Vitamin tablets can be dangerous. This is due, among other things, to the fact that many dietary supplements overdosed are, which can lead to severe side effects and endanger health.
So you can take the vitamins in a natural way
The frequently supplemented vitamins A, C, E and B2 can also be adequately absorbed through a balanced diet. In particular, the following products are according to the Consumer Center rich in these nutrients:
- Vitamin A: Animal foods such as fish, milk, egg yolks and liver
- Vitamin C: Sea buckthorn berries, citrus fruits, sweet peppers, currants and parsley
- Vitamin E: vegetable oils, whole grains and nuts
- Vitamin B2: offal, milk and dairy products and cereal germs
(Jan Oeftger)
Editor’s note
The information given in this article does not replace a visit to a doctor. Only experts can make the right diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy. The intake of medication or dietary supplements should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.