The article has already appeared on Schwaebische.de. Due to the great interest, we are publishing it again.
“Vitamin D supplementation has no effect at all in the normal population and should actually be stopped,” says Dr. Stephan Martin opposite the medscape portal. The study situation is clear: in the general population without a proven vitamin D deficiency, additional intake does not bring any health benefit. The media hype is also disproportionate to previous findings, they say Apotheke Adhoc.
The fact is: In randomized controlled trials, no health benefits from vitamin D supplementation were found in people without a proven deficiency. As promised by some manufacturers, the overall mortality rate does not decrease, nor can the rate of bone fractures be significantly influenced by vitamin D administration in the general population.
Correlation does not equal causation
Current research has also confirmed that vitamin D supplements neither prevent the disease from worsening nor improve the symptoms of people living with asthma and COPD.
Many people take vitamin D supplements, even though their effectiveness in healthy people has not been scientifically confirmed. (Photo: dpa-tmn)
The alleged connection has so far been based largely on observational studies. Doctors are now warning against mixing correlation and causality. Means: Just because people with low vitamin D levels are sick more often, does not mean that the low vitamin D level is the cause.
Children can get sick
But it’s not just adults who resort to the supposed miracle cures that don’t require a prescription. Especially if the child is averse to fruit and vegetables, parents want to help with tablets, capsules, dragees or powder. According to the Pharmacy Umschau, 5.9 percent of 6 to 11 year olds in Germany get nutritional supplements. Among 12 to 17 year olds, one in six children is said to receive supplementation from their parents.
Nicole Merbach, Head of Nutrition & Health at Stiftung Warentest, recently found clear words for this: “Children simply don’t need nutritional supplements. These are superfluous at best, but can also have negative consequences and lead to side effects such as headaches and nausea.”
