April 2010 János Áder calls on the EU to do more to tackle The sunshine vitamin D deficiency supplement Vitamin D deficiency in focus Anja Weisgerber wants to raise awareness of the importance of vitamin D Consumers need more information on the food they eat, says Jo Leinen In association with Special supplement April 2010 EDITORIAL TEAM Managing editor In association with Brian Johnson Martin Banks Martha Moss Louise Tait Kevin McCann International Press Centre Boulevard Charlemagne 1 Box 2 Brussels 1041 Tel +32 (0)2 285 0828 [email protected] www.theparliament.com VITAMIN D EDITORIAL BOARD Editor 4 Heated debate Catherine Stihler MEP János Áder is calling on the EU to make the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency a top priority Editorial board Jorgo Chatzimarkakis Romana Jordan Cizelj 5 Feeling the benefit Eija-Riitta Korhola Jan Olbrycht Werner Christie says dealing with vitamin D deficiency in Europe would bring big rewards Alojz Peterle Struan Stevenson 6 All together now Inese Vaidere Politicians and doctors should work together to raise awareness of vitamin D deficiency, writes Konstanty Radziwill PRODUCTION John Levers 7 In the loop Tel +44 (0)20 7091 7524 Jo Leinen says consumers need more information to prevent vitamin D deficiency in Europe Kazimierz Kapusniak ADVERTISING AND 8 Pushing the agenda SPONSORSHIP SALES The time for talking is over, argues Jim Higgins, as he tells Kevin McCann about the need to act decisively on vitamin D Director Paul Sanders deficiency Tel +44 (0)20 7091 7658 Andrew Oliver 9 A call to action Tel +44 (0)1273 690 045 Anja Weisgerber talks to Martin Banks about the need to raise awareness about the importance of vitamin D Sandra Fernandez Monica Barbosa 10 The big issue Philip Beausire Tel +44 (0)20 7091 7661 The importance of vitamin D is set to move rapidly up the political agenda. Martin Banks reports Dominic Paine Tel +32 (0)2 285 0908 14 Preventing the preventable Subscriptions Sarah Kinnane Many cases of osteoporosis and other bone diseases could be prevented by ensuring an adequate vitamin D intake. Moira Tel +44 (0)20 7091 7682 O’Brien explains some of the initiatives taking place in Ireland www.theparliament.com Annual subscription price: €120 17 Upping the intake PUBLISHER & Effective dietary strategies can help prevent widespread vitamin D deficiency in Europe argues Kevin Cashman MANAGING DIRECTOR Martin Beck Dods Parliamentary 18 Sunshine and supplements Communications An increased vitamin D intake would lead to significant benefits in fall and fracture prevention, writes Heike Bischoff-Ferrari PRINTER Corelio Printing, Brussels Tel +32 (0)2 526 01 50 www.corelioprinting.be Dods Parliamentary Communications is widely respected for producing authoritative and independent political publications. Its policy is to accept adver- 6 8 14 17 18 tisements representing many sides of a debate from a variety of organisations. Dod’s Parliamentary Communications takes no political stance on the messages contained within advertisements but requires that all content is in strict accor- dance with the law. Dod’s Parliamentary Communications reserves the right to refuse advertisements for good reason (for example if it is libellous, defamatory, pornographic, socially unacceptable, insensitive or otherwise contrary to editorial policy.) 3 PARLIAMENTMAGAZINE April 2010 VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY Heated debate János Áder is calling on the EU to make the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency a top priority was delighted to host the confer- multiple sclerosis and many forms of our public health systems through the ence on vitamin D deficiency in cancer. prevention and treatment of vitamin D the parliament last month. The The proper prevention and treat- deficiency, should be a top priority. presence of so many distinguished ment of vitamin D deficiency would It is rare that a health issue spans as Ispeakers, representing the scientific, clearly lead to massive health ben- wide a geographical area as vitamin D medical and patient communities, efits for Europe’s citizens, as well as deficiency does, with such measurable as well as my colleagues from the saving member states an enormous benefits for its proper treatment. The European parliament, was very encour- amount of money. According to the need for further research on the ways in aging. Vitamin D is of vital importance recent international Grant study, suf- which it can be combated is therefore to human health, and the participants ficient provision of the population with great, and the EU should do all it can in the debate have been working on vitamin D would lower health costs in to promote and fund investigation into the issue for many years, carrying out 17 European countries by an unbeliev- the subject in order to ensure the social research on its benefits and informing and economic benefits that come with people of the importance it serves in “The ‘sunshine vitamin’ is improved long-term health. our everyday lives. Vitamin D deficiency is above all a As a politician and a lawyer, it was a essential not only for specific human issue, and the human costs of pleasure to be in the company of such bone and muscle health, but inaction can be very high. While, as I say, high-level scientists, doctors, professors as a key preventative factor more research needs to be done on ways and researchers. They drew my atten- in overall human health” to treat vitamin D deficiency, we know tion to many different facts, some of the importance of an adequate intake, which were, for me, new and shocking. the consequences of not having one, At least 50 per cent of the European able €187bn, at a cost of only €10bn. As and the relative ease with which defi- population is deficient in vitamin D. this demonstrates, vitamin D deficiency ciency can be prevented. Last month’s The ‘sunshine vitamin’ is essential not is a significant opportunity for health call to action was a unique opportunity only for bone and muscle health, but promotion and prevention within the to bring together representatives of the János Áder is as a key preventative factor in overall EU. Any health issue in which 50 scientific community and policymakers a member of human health. As a growing body of per cent of the European population to highlight these facts. We are all con- parliament’s scientific research shows, vitamin D is concerned, poses a clear opportu- nected in our ambition to tackle vitamin environment, public deficiency is linked to a wide range of nity for health policy. The prevention D deficiency, and I hope parliament will health and food diseases, including osteoporosis, dis- of disease, and reduction in healthcare take the initiative to further the issue on safety committee eases of the heart, diabetes, asthma, costs as well as the economic burden on the political agenda. 4 PARLIAMENTMAGAZINE April 2010 VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY Feeling the benefit Werner Christie says dealing with vitamin D deficiency in Europe would bring big rewards now tells us that most populations in the standing committee of European doctors, temperate zones, and even many in the we have focused on the deficiency aspect tropics, have vitamin D blood levels far rather than new recommendations. Even below the optimal. Given what we already though numerous experts consider the know, and what an increasing amount current recommended daily intake as far of new, hard science indicates, vitamin too low, many people are still not achiev- D seems to have some incredible health ing these levels. Awareness raising and benefits related to maintaining health and education programmes urgently need to preventing infectious diseases, bone dis- be put in place. Vulnerable groups should eases, possibly cancers, and a number of so have priority for attention. called autoimmune and other diseases. We now need to assess what works and I have not, beyond tobacco control, what doesn’t. The Institute of Medicine come across any comparably promising in the US is currently conducting a review prevention opportunity with such a low of vitamin D with Canada that will no cost and low risk. In my discussions with doubt lead to a change in advice and various stakeholders it has become evident guidelines. A pan-European portal where that addressing vitamin D deficiency is interested individuals can place, access a clear healthcare obligation. This has and share information on vitamin D and the potential to improve the health and its health benefits would be helpful. With wellbeing of our population and prevent 250 million Europeans alone deficient, uring 30 years in healthcare, I serious diseases, thereby reducing pain the information task is tremendous. The have had the privilege, as well and suffering, as well as expenditure. From vitamin D conference in the European as the obligation, to search an ethical as well as public health point parliament clearly showed that there is for effective opportunities to of view, addressing vitamin D deficiency now a good momentum. We are grate- Dimprove health. There is an obvious duty thus seems an obvious and politically ful that so many stakeholders, scientists, to treat and care for a diseased person; it responsible thing to do. doctors, patients, and politicians agreed to should also be an equal responsibility to Throughout our campaign with the take action together on this issue. prevent disease. To find economical and efficient ways to reduce disease risk is As chair of PA International Foundation, I was honoured to participate in this call for action to tackle the first commandment of public health. vitamin D deficiency. PA International Foundation has made it its mission to address problems of However, the costs, risks and complexity a transborder and transcultural nature – be they in the area of humanitarian aid, environmental of many preventive programmes often protection or health – which sometimes appear to go unnoticed by others.