Vitamin D Campaign (Winter)

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in Germany – and often goes unnoticed. Fatigue, low mood, and a weakened immune system in winter often have a simple cause that a bit of knowledge and a small adjustment can fix.

What does vitamin D have to do with office life?

Sunlight is the most important source of vitamin D. Anyone who commutes to the office in Germany from October to March, driving in before the sun is up and driving home after it has set, produces almost no vitamin D of their own – no matter how healthy their diet is. The result: according to the Robert Koch Institute, around 60% of adults in Germany do not reach the desirable level, and around 30% are considered deficient – more in the winter half of the year than in summer (DEGS1 study, Rabenberg et al., 2015). A deficiency can show up, for example, as fatigue and susceptibility to infections.

How do you inform in a meaningful way?

No medical diagnoses, no supplementation recommendations without a doctor's visit – but clear knowledge: What happens with a deficiency? How much sunlight would theoretically be needed? Which foods contain vitamin D, even if only in small amounts? And: at what point is a blood test at the doctor's worthwhile? Answering these questions without causing alarm – that is workplace health communication pitched at the right level. You will find more measures and how they fit in the field of action Nutrition.