Why micronutrients are essential today — An interview with Dr. Feldhaus

Nutrition alone is often no longer enough today. Physician Dr. Simon Feldhaus explains why supplementation makes sense, what really matters when choosing products — and what sustainable health truly means.

What role do micronutrients play in today's health prevention?

Even if politicians and media repeatedly emphasize that a balanced diet is sufficient — this is simply not true. Many factors such as soil degradation, long delivery and storage times for food, improper preparation, or high consumption due to stress and medication mean that the increased demand cannot be met by diet alone.

Well-documented examples in studies are Vitamin D and Omega-3 — here, very few people achieve the necessary amounts. But other micronutrients are also frequently deficient. Therefore, supplementation is necessary and recommended for maintaining health and preventing diseases and premature aging.

How important is a holistic approach to nutrient supply compared to individual isolated substances?

Micronutrients often work in synergy in the body. Isolated nutrients cannot replace the complex effect of a nutrient matrix from natural foods. Optimal are coordinated combinations — humans, as a multi-substance system, also require a sensible combination of several micronutrients.

At the same time, it is important to note that interactions between individual micronutrients are possible, especially at higher dosages — for example, between zinc and selenium.

Why is this holistic approach so important — are there concrete examples?

Many micronutrients only work correctly in conjunction with each other. A well-known example: Vitamin D can only be activated and thus become effective if sufficient magnesium is present. The isolated administration of micronutrients simply does not do justice to this interplay.

Isolated nutrients can even promote imbalances under certain circumstances. Concrete examples from practice: If an existing B12 deficiency is treated with very high doses of folic acid, this can mask symptoms of anemia while nerve damage due to B12 deficiency progresses unnoticed. And an excessively high intake of beta-carotene increases the risk of lung cancer — this is also well documented.

What should one particularly look for in high-quality micronutrient products?

In addition to the composition and dosage of the substances used, the galenics — meaning the preparation and formulation — are crucial. This significantly influences bioavailability, ideally improving it. Equally important is the quality of the raw materials: stability and protection against oxidation play a major role here.

Certain additives used in the manufacture of tablets must be carefully considered — titanium dioxide, for example, which is still used as a whitener, is a critically discussed example. Ultimately, the decisive factors for a micronutrient product are: composition, bioavailability, and the safety of possible additives or colorants.

What disadvantages do you see with classic tablets or capsules?

The problem with capsules are the necessary excipients — separating agents or binders, as well as possible colorants. Fillers are often necessary to bring tablets or capsules to the desired size and shape. Furthermore, flavors and sweeteners can be used to mask the inherent taste of vitamins or minerals — these, in turn, bring their own problems: intolerances, interactions, and more.

A high-quality micronutrient preparation is characterized by the absence of unnecessary colorants, flavorings, and preservatives. The criterion of bioavailability remains absolutely central — as does the stability of the ingredients, so that their effectiveness is not impaired by storage.

What do you observe in patients in everyday life — what are the most common mistakes?

Too often, micronutrients are taken indiscriminately and uncontrolled. Many supply themselves with freely available dietary supplements without advice and control — and take them unsystematically. This is often ineffective or can, in the case of B vitamins, such as vitamin B6, lead to overdoses.

However, ineffective dosages are very often the actual issue. Despite the ease of information retrieval via the internet today, the level of knowledge in broad sections of the population is to be assessed as deficient. Especially the individual situation is too little considered — and interactions with taken medications are generally not considered at all, for example, when taking contraceptives.

Can deficiencies really only be determined via blood values?

Ultimately, a holistic and integrative assessment of the individual situation must always be made. Here, the preventive intake of micronutrients must be clearly distinguished from administration for therapeutic purposes.

In the case of a therapeutic indication, high-quality professional advice and care by a trained specialist must be provided, as dosages are used here that go beyond those of dietary supplements. In this situation, laboratory diagnostics are a decisive measure for control and dose finding — but they must always be evaluated in the context of an anamnesis and taking into account diseases or medications taken.

Therefore, diagnostic testing via home test kits is clearly not recommended, as precisely this context is missing. Laboratory diagnostics of individual values without knowledge of the interconnections in the body and metabolism are pointless — or in individual cases even tricky, as incorrect dosages may be derived.

In your opinion, what is the most sustainable factor for long-term health?

The basis for sustainable health is always lifestyle: sufficient exercise, biologically wholesome nutrition, stress reduction, and adequate sleep. The enjoyment factor should also play a major role in everyday life — the joy of life is an important health factor.

«Mens sana in corpore sano» is and remains a fundamental principle. Micronutrients make an important contribution to health maintenance on this basis — but by no means replace a self-responsible lifestyle.

Can you recommend POWERLIFE® products in this context?

The POWERLIFE® products are very well matched for their area of application and have been created in a highly effective galenic form. Therefore, I can effectively recommend them.

What do you particularly value when assessing such products — and to what extent does POWERLIFE® meet these criteria?

For me, the quality of the raw materials comes first, followed by a well-thought-out composition and an optimally coordinated dosage — always within the legal requirements. Equally crucial is the correct galenics, so that the nutrients can be absorbed by the body as effectively as possible.

In my opinion, POWERLIFE® products meet precisely these requirements in a convincing manner.

About Dr. med. Simon Feldhaus

Dr. Simon Feldhaus is a physician specializing in integrative medicine and a long-standing cooperation partner of POWERLIFE®. In his daily practice, he provides holistic care to patients — with a special focus on micronutrient supply, prevention, and lifestyle medicine.

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