Vitamin D status and current policies to achieve adequate vitamin D intake in the Nordic countries

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of public health p. 1403494819896878
• Main Authors: Itkonen, Suvi T, Andersen, Rikke, Björk, Anne K, Brugård Konde, Åsa, Eneroth, Hanna, Erkkola, Maijaliisa, Holvik, Kristin, Madar, Ahmed A, Meyer, Haakon E, Tetens, Inge, Torfadóttir, Jóhanna E, Thórisdóttir, Birna, Lamberg-Allardt, Christel J E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden 01.08.2021
• Subjects: nutrition recommendations; nutrition; vitamin D intake; 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Vitamin D; Nordic; implementation; vitamin D fortification; vitamin D status; policy
• ISSN: 1651-1905
• DOI: 10.1177/1403494819896878

Nordic countries share fairly similar food culture and geographical location as well as common nutrition recommendations. The aim of this paper was to review the latest data on vitamin D status and intake and to describe the national supplementation and food fortification policies to achieve adequate vitamin D intake in the Nordic countries. The data are based on results derived from a literature search presented in a workshop held in Helsinki in November 2018 and completed by recent studies. Vitamin D policies and the implementation of the recommendations differ among the Nordic countries. Vitamin D fortification policies can be mandatory or voluntary and widespread, moderate or non-existent. Vitamin D supplementation recommendations differ, ranging from all age groups being advised to take supplements to only infants. In the general adult population of the Nordic countries, vitamin D status and intake are better than in the risk groups that are not consuming vitamin D supplements or foods containing vitamin D. Non-Western immigrant populations in all Nordic countries share the problem of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency.