Vitamins

Extract

• The vitamin requirement of the human body is usually met by adequate nutrition. Due to e.g. environmental factors (especially the exposure to sunlight), diet and some health conditions, specific vitamin deficiencies may anyhow be common in some areas.
  • In northern countries like Finland, vitamin D deficiency is common. In Finland also insufficient intake of thiamine and folate is common.
• Recommendations concering vitamin intake and supplementation may vary across countries and regions. Always check local recommendations too.
• Risk groups for vitamin deficiencies include small children, immigrants, people on a vegan diet, elderly with inadequate food intake, alcoholics, and patients suffering from severe systemic diseases. In these groups the prophylactic use of vitamins may be beneficial, and diagnosed vitamin deficiencies should be actively treated.
• Vegans require vitamin B₁₂ supplementation.
• All women planning pregnancy and pregnant women (until the end of week 12 of pregnancy) require folic acid supplementation.
• Consider vitamin deficiency as a possible cause of vague or non-specific symptoms (such as aches, loss of strength, rashes) in the risk groups.

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