EU urged to help tackle Vitamin D deficiency

A parliamentary hearing has been told the EU should adopt an "effective and efficient" strategy to tackle the growing problem of vitamin D deficiency.

The workshop on Tuesday heard there is currently a "huge" shortfall in Europe in the recommended intake of vitamin D.

The recommended level is 10 micrograms per day (10-15 for the elderly) but the current average is just 3-4 micrograms.

The figures highlight the need for EU-wide action, said Kevin Cashman, of University college Cork in Ireland.

One possible solution would be to "enrich certain foods" with vitamin D although he stressed that to fortify products such as milk, dairy and fruit juices with much higher levels than currently recommended would require further research before any regulatory go-ahead could be given.

In the meantime, said Cashman Vitamin D supplements could be used by those identified as "at-risk" groups, such as the elderly, or those with diagnosed vitamin D deficiency.

"Vitamin D deficiency is a huge public health issue and it is estimated that 50-75 per cent of the adult population do not take enough vitamin D," he said.

"We need to target the at-risk population and take a serious step forward to eradicate vitamin D deficiency.

"This is preventable but it needs an effective and efficient strategy to make it happen."

According to another keynote speaker, Ferenc Szalay, of the Semmelweis University in Budapest, the problem is particularly acute in central and eastern European countries like Hungary.

One of the reasons, he argued, was that fish consumption in the region was less than half the EU average – 3.2kg per capita per year compared with the EU average of 10kg.

He told the half-day hearing the EU should consider funding research into the problem in such countries while the media also has an "important role" to play in raising awareness of vitamin D.

The event was organised by the Standing Committee of European Doctors and the PA International Foundation.

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