Vitamin D has been frequently mentioned in the comments – and I will definitely write down a few thoughts on Vitamin D soon – but I would like to precede this with some basic thoughts on vitamins.
“If the term did not exist, one would have to invent it” – this statement by a marketing professional about vitamins has remained vivid in my memory. Vitamins – that sounds so positive, so vital, so potent, and at the same time so harmless. Cholecalciferol, Retinol, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid – that sounds like the ingredients list on the back of a Nutella jar – how soothingly in contrast does Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol), Vitamin A (Retinol), Vitamin E (Tocopherol) and Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) sound – a wonderful fresh salad plate appears directly in front of the mind’s eye, doesn’t it?
From a biochemical point of view, vitamins are chemical compounds that the human body needs for certain (vital) functions, but cannot produce in sufficient quantities itself. Therefore, they must be supplied from the outside (with food). Given our now very wide range of food and the availability of all kinds of food at any time of the year, it is actually quite unlikely with a normal diet, which does not even have to be “healthy”, that one is at risk of developing a vitamin deficiency nowadays in Central Europe. This can only happen in the case of extreme restriction diets, certain internal diseases or severe alcoholism. A targeted substitution treatment is necessary in these cases.
On the other hand, one must realize that every chemical compound can have side effects depending on the dose – for example, it is known that the vitamin A precursor beta-carotene, when taken at high doses, probably increases the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Water-soluble vitamins, on the other hand – such as vitamin C – are usually largely excreted again in case of oversupply. So, upon sober reflection, I cannot quite share the general enthusiasm for a vitamin substitution for the therapy or prevention of chronic diseases. Given the currently available food supply, we do not need any additional vitamin supplementation.
However, I want to make a small restriction regarding my basic attitude – the Vitamin D story with MS is indeed quite interesting and quite exciting. Therefore, I can understand and would support the desire of an MS patient to supplement with Vitamin D – whether I would do it myself if I had MS, I don’t know – but more on that later….
