Vitamin D preparations at Ökotest - only five out of 20 remedies can convince

2020-02-25T15:45:41.058Z

Are you also taking vitamin D? Then you should take a closer look at the test results from Ökotest: Some vitamin D preparations are classified as "insufficient".

A blood test reveals whether you have a vitamin D deficiency.
Many take vitamin D supplements without consulting a doctor.
This can have devastating consequences.

The majority of Germans are said to be insufficiently supplied with vitamin D. The reason: too little sun. But not only sunlight stimulates the body's production of vitamin D, the right foods also ensure sufficient vitamin D in the body. The sun hormone, as vitamin D is also called, is found in salmon, mushrooms, cheese, liver and egg yolk. However, 80 to 90 percent of the vitamin D requirement is covered by direct sunlight .

Strictly speaking, vitamin D is not one of the vitamins, but rather the precursor of a hormone. When the sun's rays hit the skin, the kidneys and liver form active vitamin D , which regulates the calcium and phosphate metabolism in the body, strengthens the muscles and prevents osteoporosis. However, if a vitamin D deficiency * is found, doctors usually recommend vitamin D supplements. However, there are big quality differences here.

60 percent of Germans are said to suffer from vitamin D deficiency

Only if a doctor recommends vitamin D supplementation should it be taken. A blood test can help medical professionals find out how vitamin D levels are. If the value drops below the serum concentration of 30 nmol / l, which corresponds to twelve nanograms per milliliter, there is talk of a deficiency. According to the Deutsche Apotheker-Zeitung (DAZ), the optimal value is 50 nmol / l . However, 60 percent of the German population should not reach it, according to the DAZ.

Only a diagnosed vitamin D deficiency should be treated. However, there are many people who take vitamin D supplements without medical advice. According to the consumer magazine Ökotest, this can even be harmful. Ökotest is currently testing 20 agents - five over-the-counter medicines and 15 food supplements from drugstores or supermarkets . The results sober.

In the video: How to improve your vitamin D level even in winter

Very good vitamin D suppliers: prescription drugs

The most important thing in advance: "Healthy adults and children generally do not need any means with vitamin D because they can easily cover their needs with the help of the sun," says Ökotest ahead of its publication. Only babies would generally have to be provided with vitamin D to prevent rickets. However, if you consume highly concentrated vitamin D supplements on your own, you risk calcium metabolism disorders, endanger bone health * and promote kidney damage .

A total of nine products with vitamin D failed the test. There was no scientific evidence of the effectiveness and benefits of the preparations. However, prescription drugs mostly scored "very good" because their effectiveness has been proven and they contain no questionable auxiliary substances. The best-rated drugs include the following vitamin D supplements:

Decristol 1,000 IU (IE stands for international units)
Vigantol 1,000 IU
Vitagamma 1,000 IU
Vitamin D Sandoz 1,000 IU

Also read : Too good a promise: Capsules for mental fitness disappoint - only one preparation really makes sense .

Nine vitamin D food supplements with a "poor" and "insufficient" rating

Over the counter food supplements were not recommended by Ökotest. These are maximally unregulated, the person placing the product on the market has to prove no effectiveness and the maximum quantities are also missing. Eight products tested exceeded the maximum amount of 20 micrograms per day , which corresponds to the maximum amount recommended by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) for food supplements. Here Ökotest sees the danger of overdosing. Nine products therefore received the worst grades "poor" and "insufficient", which include: