09.03.14
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies has issued a positive scientific opinion on vitamin D2-rich baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). This will allow food supplement manufacturers to use Lallemand Vita Dyeast as a natural and vegetarian alternative source of vitamin D.
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Summer sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, but the food we eat plays an increasing importance, especially during winter at latitudes greater than 40°N or S. Also, since more and more of the world’s population live an indoor lifestyle and use different kinds of sunscreens, this too has a negative impact on the vitamin D level. Unfortunately, there are only a few natural food sources, which would explain why at least one third of Europeans is deficient in vitamin D. Indeed, EFSA estimates that a large percentage of the population does not meet the recommended daily allowances of 8 μg/day for children and adults and of 12 μg/day for adolescents. In 2012, the mean percentile intake of vitamin D from foods among young children varied from 1.7 to 5.6 μg/day, and from 1.6 to 4.0 μg/day in adolescents. For adults, estimates of vitamin D mean intake from foods varied from 1.1 to 8.2 μg/day.
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According to an Angus Reid survey conducted in 2012 for Lallemand in nine countries across Europe, a large proportion of European consumers (84%) believe that vitamin D plays a great role in maintaining or improving their health. This survey also offers an interesting new peek into European consumers’ views on vitamin D:
•  The most common health benefits European consumers’ associate with vitamin D are protection against osteoporosis and fracture risk (48%), followed by cardiovascular disease (20%) and influenza (20%).
•  Food sources European consumers associated with Vitamin D: Cod liver oil (41%), followed by salmon (38%) and milk (34%).
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Since many Europeans are not meeting their needs for vitamin D and new dietary sources are needed, EFSA’s validation gives the food supplement industry an opportunity to offer a solution to this problem. Lallemand’s Lalmin Vita D will be available at 0,02% or 8000 IU/gram of yeast.
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Summer sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, but the food we eat plays an increasing importance, especially during winter at latitudes greater than 40°N or S. Also, since more and more of the world’s population live an indoor lifestyle and use different kinds of sunscreens, this too has a negative impact on the vitamin D level. Unfortunately, there are only a few natural food sources, which would explain why at least one third of Europeans is deficient in vitamin D. Indeed, EFSA estimates that a large percentage of the population does not meet the recommended daily allowances of 8 μg/day for children and adults and of 12 μg/day for adolescents. In 2012, the mean percentile intake of vitamin D from foods among young children varied from 1.7 to 5.6 μg/day, and from 1.6 to 4.0 μg/day in adolescents. For adults, estimates of vitamin D mean intake from foods varied from 1.1 to 8.2 μg/day.
Â
According to an Angus Reid survey conducted in 2012 for Lallemand in nine countries across Europe, a large proportion of European consumers (84%) believe that vitamin D plays a great role in maintaining or improving their health. This survey also offers an interesting new peek into European consumers’ views on vitamin D:
•  The most common health benefits European consumers’ associate with vitamin D are protection against osteoporosis and fracture risk (48%), followed by cardiovascular disease (20%) and influenza (20%).
•  Food sources European consumers associated with Vitamin D: Cod liver oil (41%), followed by salmon (38%) and milk (34%).
Â
Since many Europeans are not meeting their needs for vitamin D and new dietary sources are needed, EFSA’s validation gives the food supplement industry an opportunity to offer a solution to this problem. Lallemand’s Lalmin Vita D will be available at 0,02% or 8000 IU/gram of yeast.
