Vitamin D – the sun vitamin

Vitamin D is essential for health: among other things, it contributes to maintaining healthy bones and a healthy immune system. The human body can produce 80 per cent of vitamin D itself with the help of sunlight. People who live in areas with long, dark winters are therefore particularly susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. According to the German Nutrition Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung e.V., DGE), around 60% of the population in Germany has an inadequate vitamin D supply.

Functions in the body

Intake recommendations

The Institute of Medicine recommends the intake of 15 mg vitamin D per day for children and adults. From the age of 70, the recommended intake increases to 20 mg a day.

Occurrence in food

Only a small number of foods contain a sufficient amount of natural vitamin D.

· Liver and cod liver oil

· Fish such as salmon, tuna and swordfish

· Orange juice

· Milk