After winter – lack of vitamins
Pharmacists emphasize that if you ate well during the winter and promoted a healthy lifestyle, then you should not feel a lack of vitamins at this time. Otherwise, the signals sent by the body should be taken into account – perhaps something is really missing.
“If the patient was often sick during the cold season, and it is difficult for the body to recover from illnesses, then it would be worthwhile to choose vitamins for strengthening immunity and body recovery – these are zinc, echinacea, vitamin D.
Magnesium and group B vitamins should be chosen for the nervous system. Fish oil can and is recommended to be consumed all year round. If the patient does not have certain symptoms, it is recommended to take multivitamins,” the portal said lrytas.lt said Rimvydas Blyn, pharmacist of the Camelia pharmacy chain.
It can be seen that a considerable number of Lithuanians follow such advice. Now, most of all, they are looking for vitamins to strengthen the immune system and the nervous system.
“Currently, patients are usually looking for fish oil and vitamin D, magnesium, probiotics and nutritional supplements for joints, nervous system and eyes in pharmacies. The jump in the recent nutritional supplements for the eyes is particularly pronounced – at the beginning of this year, people bought almost 60% of them. more than last year at the same time.
We are also recording the growth of food supplements for immunity, 13% of them have already been purchased this year. more than at the beginning of last year,” commented Rolanda Lipnevičiūtė, head of communication at Eurovaistinė.
“Purchasing is influenced by seasonality, but overall the most popular vitamins that people buy are vitamin D and C, group B vitamins. Often, buyers also look for macroelements and microelements, minerals.
These are calcium, sodium, chlorine, iodine, zinc, chromium, selenium. “Mineral substances help to turn the consumed food into energy, support all vital functions, the balance of acids and alkalis in the body,” said Laura Mockutė, pharmacist of the “BENU” pharmacy chain.
Pharmacist Domantė Viliūnaitė of “Gintarinės vaistinės” points out that when using at least several different preparations, one should check whether the recommended daily rate is not exceeded.
“Tips for taking vitamins: Take multivitamins in the morning (before breakfast) or as directed on the manufacturer’s information sheet. B vitamins, C and other water-soluble vitamins should be taken with food.
If your gut is more sensitive, take magnesium with food to prevent diarrhea. It is advisable to take calcium with vitamin D, as it helps the absorption of calcium. Take these vitamins in the evening because calcium promotes muscle relaxation. Take fish oil with dinner, because Omega acids can inhibit the absorption of other medicines”, explained D. Viliūnaitė.
Vitamins cost more
However, representatives of all interviewed pharmacies agree: you will have to pay more for various vitamins this year than last year.
“Manufacturers of food supplements, like the entire market, have faced increased costs, so the prices of some food supplements have been raised,” Camelia pharmacist R. Blynas said briefly.
“The price inflation that started last year could be seen in all pharmacy chains due to the recent events in the world”, the communication manager of “Eurovaistinė” also agreed.
“Prices changed in various ways during inflation, we can notice the increase in the price of some products”, – assured Urtė Jankauskaitė, a pharmaceutical information specialist of the company “Azeta”, which manages online pharmacies.
Vitamins are also expensive in “Gintarinė vaisita”, which is said to be due to more than one reason.
“The prices of some food supplements have changed, but in this market there are often fluctuations in the prices of vitamins and food supplements due to many factors, such as logistics costs, prices of raw materials, seasonality,” said I. Tėvelienė.
“The prices of different preparations vary. This variation depends on the suppliers. The main reasons that determine price changes are changes in raw material prices and energy prices. This is partly related to the geopolitical situation,” added Rita Šelekaitė-Ivaškevičienė, Marketing and Communication Manager of BENU.
The prices did not frighten
However, it seems that residents are finding money for more expensive vitamins – sales have even increased in some pharmacies. Pharmacists are only happy about it.
“For several years now, we have been observing a steadily growing interest of people in food supplements, as a result of which more and more are purchased every year. For example, at the beginning of this year, in February-March, people bought 12 percent. more food supplements than last year in the same period”, calculated R.Lipnevičiūtė, head of communication at Eurovaistinė.
Sales grew similarly in “Gintarinė Vaistinė”.
“Comparing the sales of the first week of March with the first week of February, we notice that more than 10 percent sales of food supplements increased. We notice that people have begun to pay more attention to prevention, disease prevention and are not inclined to save at the expense of health.
Comparing last year and this year, people buy food supplements and health products more actively, so we can state that people’s awareness and attention to their health and that of their loved ones has increased”, I. Tėvelienė assured.
“People are not deterred by higher prices. They choose vitamins at various prices, but regardless of inflation, they always buy where it is cheaper, look for promotions and discounts or good deals. However, they tend to pay more for a good product or a convenient purchase,” said Azeta specialist U. Jankauskaitė.
“I cannot say that people are saving at the expense of health. In some pharmacies, depending on the location of the pharmacy, pharmacists and consultants feel that some people are struggling to spend as much as they used to on supplements and non-essential items.
However, Lithuanians in general try to invest in their health and choose high-quality, albeit more expensive, supplements. You won’t save money at the expense of your health”, emphasized L. Mockutė, pharmacist of “BENU”.
Tags: trend surprised pharmacists
