The Power of Vitamin D - why plant-based products are increasingly being fortified?

Introduction

In the context of growing interest in plant-based diets and a healthy lifestyle, the topic of vitamin D remains essential. In Europe, its deficiency affects a significant portion of the population – in certain groups, such as the elderly, people living alone, or immigrants, it reaches as high as 40%.

What’s more, even in sunny regions, for example in the south of the continent, the deficiency often persists. As experts at Vegan Stock, we observe that the dietary gap in vitamin D sources (especially in plant-based diets, which lack fish, eggs, or animal fats) requires effective strategies – and one of them is solid, well-designed fortification.

1. Vitamin D – key role and availability in plant-based diets

Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium-phosphate balance, supports bone mineralization, and thus reduces the risk of fractures, while also positively affecting muscle strength. An increasing number of studies suggest its link to a reduced risk of certain cancers. Unfortunately, many people in Europe – including vegans – do not reach the recommended vitamin D levels. The average daily intake in the European diet is only about 3.8 µg, whereas the recommended intake is at least 20-50 µg per day. This is a real public health issue requiring an effective solution.

2. Fortification – definition, mechanism, significance

Fortification means adding vitamins and minerals to food in amounts sufficient to meet the body’s needs. In the case of vitamin D in Europe, this most often means enriching margarines, plant-based drinks, breakfast cereals, or other grain-based products.

Clinical studies show that participants in fortification programs record a marked increase in blood vitamin D levels, comparable to supplementation results. This is particularly important during periods of limited sunlight exposure, when skin synthesis is insufficient.

3. Trends in enriching plant-based products

The plant-based market continues to develop at a dynamic pace – particularly in the context of new product launches. Consumers increasingly expect functional products – not only plant-based, but also enriched with vitamins and minerals – and demand this with practically every new product launch, as seen on the websites and social media of plant-based dairy alternative producers. This is why manufacturers are increasingly adding vitamin D to soy, almond, oat, and coconut drinks, as well as plant-based yogurt alternatives. Increasing attention is also being paid to the quality of the vitamin form. D₂ has traditionally been used in plant-based products, but D₃ from lichen – considered more bioavailable – is gaining importance. At Vegan Stock, we recommend that producers use plant-based D₃ to combine efficacy with the ethical nature of the product.

4. European regulations – country by country

Approaches to fortification in Europe vary. Finland is seen as a model – the introduction of mandatory fortification of milk and fats has significantly improved the population’s vitamin D status. Sweden and Belgium also apply mandatory or strongly recommended fortification programs.

In other countries, such as the UK, fortification remains voluntary. In most EU countries, efforts are fragmented and lack a unified strategy. Experts call for coordinated programs and standardization – from methods for measuring vitamin D levels to consistent guidelines for adding it to food.

5. Benefits of fortification for consumers

Vitamin D fortification of plant-based products is not just a dietary fashion, but a real element of health prevention. In many European countries, where deficiencies are common for most of the year, incorporating fortified foods into the daily diet can significantly improve the population’s nutritional status. This solution works on a wide scale, reaching both conscious consumers and those who do not take supplements. This is especially important for children, the elderly, and vegans and vegetarians – groups that often have less access to natural sources of vitamin D. Moreover, fortification is a silent measure, not requiring extra effort from the consumer – the vitamin is simply present in the purchased product.

The main benefits include:

Increased daily intake coverage – especially important for those on plant-based diets.

Disease prevention – including osteoporosis and some cancers; it is estimated that current fortification prevents around 11,000 deaths annually in the EU, and full implementation could save over 100,000 lives per year.

Reduced healthcare costs – prevention is much cheaper than treating the consequences of deficiency.

6. Challenges, myths, and criticism

Despite its benefits, vitamin D fortification is still a matter of debate. One challenge is maintaining the stability of the vitamin throughout the production and storage process – this requires appropriate technology and carriers. There are also disputes regarding the effectiveness of different forms of vitamin D – while D₂ is widely used in plant-based products, research increasingly suggests that D₃, even in plant-based form from lichen, may be better absorbed. Another factor is the concern among some consumers about “processed” food – here, education is key, showing that fortification is a safe and scientifically justified solution. Finally, regulators must balance ensuring adequate supply with avoiding excessive doses, although data from countries with mandatory fortification show that the risk of excess is negligible.

The main challenges and barriers include:

Stability and bioavailability – the need for technology that protects the vitamin from degradation.

D₂ vs. D₃ – plant-based D₃ from lichen is more effective but more expensive, which may limit its use.

Concerns about over-fortification – in practice, safe intake levels are not exceeded in Europe.

Consumer education – awareness of the role of vitamin D is still too low, especially in the context of plant-based diets.

7. The future: biofortification and innovations in plant-based nutrition

The future of fortifying plant-based products in Europe looks promising. Biofortification technologies – naturally increasing the vitamin D content in raw materials before processing – are playing an increasingly important role, e.g. by exposing mushrooms to UVB light or enriching yeast. Combined with precise quality control and microencapsulation methods, it will be possible to obtain stable and well-absorbed forms of vitamin D in plant-based products.

It is also essential to increase the number of studies on the long-term effects of fortification on population health and consumer behaviour. At Vegan Stock, we see great potential here for cooperation between the food industry, science, and regulators – to make plant-based products not only tasty and ethical but also nutritionally complete.

What lies ahead?

Biofortification – naturally increasing the vitamin D content in mushrooms, yeast, and other raw materials.

Advanced research – assessing the effectiveness of various forms of vitamin D in plant-based products.

Innovative technologies – e.g. microencapsulation for better stability and bioavailability; creating vitamin-protein complexes to protect them from oxidation and light.

Use of active packaging – containing oxygen absorbers or natural antioxidants.

Cooperation between industry, science, and regulators – a prerequisite for introducing effective and safe solutions to the market.

Summary

Vitamin D fortification in plant-based products is an effective and safe strategy for improving public health in Europe. The experience of Finland and Sweden shows that well-planned policy can significantly reduce the scale of deficiencies. Thanks to modern technologies, such as biofortification, and growing demand for plant-based food, we are increasingly close to closing the nutritional gap.

As experts at Vegan Stock, we support producers in consciously implementing fortification – to deliver products that combine high nutritional value with the ethical nature of a plant-based diet.

Want to learn more? Contact our experts!