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by Ilse Romahn
(07.01.2022) In the winter months in particular, many people in Germany are undersupplied with vitamin D. According to an evaluation by BARMER, almost 170,000 people in Hessen receive medical treatment every year for a vitamin D deficiency. That is around 2.7 percent of the population in Hesse.
Men and women are affected differently: in Hesse it was 1.7 percent of men and 3.7 percent of women. Vitamin D is important for the bones and other metabolic processes in the body. The reason for a lack of vitamin D is usually a one-sided diet or an increased need for nutrients in certain life or age situations. “We can produce vitamin D ourselves through exposure to the sun. However, if you don’t go outside often enough in the darker months of the year, your body may temporarily have too little vitamin D, ”says Martin Till, head of BARMER in Hesse.
Recognize a nutritional deficiency
A nutritional deficiency usually does not make itself felt at all or only through general complaints such as tiredness or a higher susceptibility to infections. “Anyone who often feels weak does not directly associate this with a lack of nutrients. A deficiency in vitamin D, for example, often only manifests itself through tiredness and depressive moods, ”says Till. A self-prescription with nutrient supplements is not advisable. Anyone who suspects they are suffering from a nutritional deficiency should consult a doctor – and of course try to eat a balanced diet.
Malnutrition in old age
“In Germany, older people belong to the risk group for a nutrient deficiency. They lack vitamin B12 and vitamin D in particular, ”emphasizes Till. Not every elderly or elderly person suffers from a nutritional deficiency. However, many people lose their healthy feeling for hunger, appetite and thirst in old age. In addition, with increasing age one often has to take more medication, which can have an influence on the absorption of nutrients. An underlying disease itself might also have a negative effect on the nutrient supply.
More information on nutrient deficiency: www.barmer.de/s000694
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