Vitamin D deficiency

“You still have to discuss it in doctors’ surgeries”

Biochemist Michael Wäger wants to use his work to raise people's awareness of health and prevention.

(Bild: Antje Wolm)

Michael Wäger from Vorarlberg is a biochemist and knows how important vitamin D is for our health. The latest Biogena Good Health Study shows that most people in Austria suffer from a vitamin D deficiency. A problem that could easily be remedied.

The current Biogena Good Health Study dispels some myths. For example: a walk in the sun is unfortunately not enough to maintain your "vitamin D balance".

Krone: Mr. Wäger, why is vitamin D so important for health?

Michael Wäger: For a long time, the steroid hormone known as vitamin D was only thought to play a role in bone metabolism. As the body can produce vitamin D itself when exposed to sunlight, it was also assumed that the population's supply was sufficient. As the latest research shows, both assumptions are wrong. Vitamin D interacts with almost all cells in the human body, and deficiencies of the hormone are frequently observed together with cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and an unhealthy ageing process.

About the person

Michael Wäger, 32, comes from Frastanz, holds a Bachelor's degree in Nutritional Sciences (University of Vienna) and a Master's degree in Biological Chemistry (University of Vienna). He has been working at Biogena for eleven years, where he is the head of the 25-strong scientific team at the Salzburg-based health company. Together with his team, he is responsible for the current Biogena Good Health Study on vitamin D, in which around 1400 people of different ages took part.

The study involved 1400 people from Austria. What was the conclusion?

Overall, the majority of participants did not have vitamin D levels that could adequately support their overall health. Younger people are particularly affected. Over 50 percent have a severe deficiency, and 9 out of 10 people in Austria do not manage to have an optimal level. However, a sufficient vitamin D status not only has a positive effect on our cardiovascular system, but also on the psyche and can alleviate depression, anxiety and sleep disorders - and also plays an important role during the menopause.

We saw in the study that it is impossible to get anywhere near a relevant preventive range without supplementation.

Michael Wäger

Why don't we manage to produce enough vitamin D ourselves?

Because we no longer spend enough time in the sun these days. The Austrian Society for Nutrition recommends eating lots of oily fish, such as salmon or anchovies, because they contain vitamin D. I once calculated this for myself: to maintain my status, I would have to eat over a kilogram of fatty salmon every day. The reality is different. We saw in the study that it is impossible to get anywhere near a relevant preventive range without supplementation. This shows that something has to be done and that all health policy measures in this direction are failing.

The Austrian Society for Nutrition recommends eating plenty of oily fish, such as salmon or anchovies, because they contain vitamin D.

(Bild: zVg)

If vitamin D is so important for our health, why is so little known about it?

A few months ago, I went to my family doctor in Vorarlberg for a check-up out of interest. I asked if my vitamin D could be measured. I was told: "No, you don't need that. You're young and get out enough." That may be an isolated case, but you still have to discuss it in GP surgeries; in theory, the health insurance company covers the costs anyway. Not only do you have to discuss it, classic laboratory diagnostics unfortunately only show a fraction of the truth. That's why we have also carried out our analyses on whole blood in order to get a holistic picture. Of course, these are more expensive.

Why should a doctor care about nutrition if you don't learn it at university?

Michael Wäger

Why is our healthcare system lagging so far behind when it comes to prevention?

There is only one lecture on nutrition in one semester of the entire medical course. This symbolizes the fact that prevention is not relevant. We obviously don't want to prevent a disease from occurring in the first place. Diabetes, for example, is considered a new pandemic. These diseases are exploding because people don't like to take precautions. There's a flaw in the system. Why should a doctor care about nutrition if they don't learn about it at university?

Michael Wäger is the head of the 25-strong scientific team at the health company Biogena.

(Bild: Biogena/DAVID WEDENIG)

What can you do yourself to take precautions?

Since Covid, I've noticed that there's been a shift towards greater health awareness and that many people are willing to spend money on it. I do a whole blood analysis once or twice a year. It costs 200 to 300 euros, depending on the laboratory. The results are discussed with a doctor. Deficiencies can be compensated for with supplements, infusions or nutrition. That is already a good basis. I hope that people will become more responsible and realize how much can be achieved through prevention.