Vitamins
According to the Health Council, a varied diet is sufficient for the majority of the population to stay healthy. Only specific risk groups should take extra vitamin D, K, B12 or folic acid.
Specifically:
- extra folic acid for women around conception;
- extra vitamin D for young children, people who do not get outside enough or have dark skin, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, women who wear a veil, women over 50 years old, and men over 70 years old
- extra vitamin K for newborns
- extra vitamin B12 for vegans.
Scientific employees of the KNOV (= professional group of midwives) have recently commented on the advice given by the Health Council on the use of extra vitamin D during pregnancy. There is a lack of scientific evidence for the benefit of routinely administering vitamin D to all pregnant women. Therefore, only women with dark skin or who wear a veil should take extra vitamin D. The Dutch College of General Practitioners and the NVOG gynecologists' association agree with the KNOV's vision.
