German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment sets zinc limit

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has established a maximum daily intake limit for zinc at 6.5 mg. Experts emphasize that dietary supplements should only serve as fillers for proven deficiencies or specific life stages, such as pregnancy or vegan diets, rather than replacing fresh food.

Regarding vitamin supplementation, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) provide reference values for fat-soluble vitamins. For instance, the recommended daily intake for Vitamin D is 20 µg.

Research into vitamin interactions suggests potential complexities; a 2001 study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research indicated that Vitamin A might weaken the short-term calcium response to Vitamin D. However, experts note that current study data remains limited and results from biological forms like calcitriol may not directly apply to standard commercial supplements.