Vitamin D has important functions that are essential to health. The vitamin is needed for bone mineralization and for supplying the myocardium and the nervous system with calcium. Although sunshine triggers endogenous vitamin D production in the skin, the UVB radiation in Northern and Central Europe is generally too weak from November to February to guarantee that the body is adequately supplied with vitamin D. Lifestyle changes – particularly those of children and adolescents – are an additional cause for concern. Since these groups are spending less and less time outside, there is an increased risk that they are producing too little vitamin D.

The case for taking action to prevent cardiovascular disease i.e., eating healthily and performing physical activity, remains clear and compelling. Despite improvements in many countries, cardiovascular disease continues to be the main cause of death in Europe, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in the region. The good news is that cardiovascular disease is largely preventable and that prevention does work and is cost-effective. In addition to macronutrients, micronutrients found in fruits and vegetables, as well as polyunsaturated fatty acids, play an important role.

In addition to its function as a component of thyroid hormones, elemental iodine plays an important role in the regulation of thyroid activity and protects against microbes in the secretions of mucous membranes. Pregnant and lactating women are a risk group for inadequate iodine intake due to the body’s increased demand for it. Adequate iodine supplementation is an important contribution to meeting this demand and thus the primary method of disease prevention in mother and child.