Elke Dag 50+ by Vitals

Updated formula for 50+

The composition of Elke Dag 50+ Tablets was recently revised based on new scientific insights, the latest food consumption surveys, and changes in regulations.

The dosage of several vitamins and minerals was adjusted. Lycopene and a highly absorbable form of silicon were added. Manganese and PQQ were removed from the formula.

Vitals developed the Elke Dag multis using recent scientific insights. The formulas also reflect current data on micronutrient intake in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Each formula matches a specific target group and is suitable for long-term use.

Tailored to age-related needs

Elke Dag 50+ is formulated for men and women aged 50 and over. With age, the body develops different nutritional needs.

The need for iron and copper decreases. That is why this formula does not contain iron or copper.

At the same time, this age group benefits from extra vitamin B12 and sufficient folate, including support for mental functions such as memory.

Higher amounts of vitamin K2 and D3 are also important. The formula also contains lutein, zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, lycopene, Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, hesperidin, pterostilbene, boron, and a highly absorbable form of silicon.

B vitamins in active forms

The Elke Dag multis provide substantial but responsible amounts of B vitamins. The composition takes daily needs, average intake, lower and upper limits, and safe long-term use into account.

They contain only the biologically active forms of vitamin B2, B6, B12, and folate. These are the forms the body uses directly.

Vitamin B2 is included as riboflavin-5'-phosphate. Vitamin B6 is included as pyridoxal-5'-phosphate.

Vitamin B12 is included as methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. Folate is included as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate.

Vitamin B6 and folate

Very high doses of vitamin B6 can in occasional cases cause tingling or numbness in the hands or feet. In the Netherlands, supplements for adults therefore have a safe upper limit of 21 mg per day.

The Elke Dag multis stay far below that level, with a maximum of 3.5 mg. They also use pyridoxal-5'-phosphate instead of pyridoxine-HCl, which first needs conversion in the body.

Research is still examining whether these occasional side effects occur only with pyridoxine-HCl, or less with pyridoxal-5'-phosphate. There are indications that only high doses of pyridoxine-HCl are toxic to nerve cells.

Instead of synthetic folic acid, the formula uses 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. This active form bypasses a conversion process that does not work well in a considerable group of people.

Quatrefolic and vitamin B12

The formula uses Quatrefolic®, which is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate bound to glucosamine salt from a plant source. This keeps the active form stable and supports absorption.

Studies show that Quatrefolic® has high stability and biological availability. Unlike ordinary synthetic folic acid, 5-MTHF can also cross the blood-brain barrier.

Vitamin B12 absorption from food is a complex process. There are also indications that the reference intake of 2.5 µg per day is too low.

Needs in healthy adults may rise to over 20 µg per day. In older adults, needs may increase further because absorption from food can decline, and some medicines can also reduce absorption.

Broad B12 support

For vegetarians, and especially for vegans, vitamin B12 supplementation is strongly recommended because vitamin B12 is found almost only in foods from animal sources.

The Elke Dag multis contain substantial amounts of vitamin B12 in the active forms methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin.

The formula does not use the cheaper synthetic form cyanocobalamin. This form does not occur naturally in food or in the human body.

Relevant amount of choline

Choline has long been a standard ingredient in multivitamins, but usually in low amounts of 10 to 30 mg. Earlier formulas reflected limited knowledge about its physiological role and required intake.

Scientific research has since expanded that knowledge. In 2012, the European Commission approved three health claims for choline at a minimum intake of 82.5 mg per day.

Choline contributes to normal lipid metabolism, normal homocysteine metabolism, and the maintenance of normal liver function.

In 2016, EFSA recognized choline as an essential nutrient and set an adequate intake for adults at 400 mg per day. Average intake in Europe is about 290 to 470 mg per day, so a considerable share of adults remains below that level.

Choline and vitamin D

That is a clear reason to include choline in a meaningful amount in a daily multivitamin. The Elke Dag multis use VitaCholine®, a high-quality and well-studied form of choline.

EFSA has established in recent years that the adequate intake of vitamin D from food is higher than previously assumed, at 15 µg, and that the safe upper limit can be raised to 100 µg.

Many European countries still advise lower amounts. The reference intake that companies must state on vitamin D packaging has remained at 5 µg.

Newer insights point to the value of higher vitamin D intake. Leading experts advise an adult calcidiol level of at least 80 nmol/l for an optimal vitamin D status.

Plant-based vitamin D3

An oral dose of vitamin D3 of about 25 to 75 µg per day is estimated to help maintain that level.

The Elke Dag multis contain substantial amounts of vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol. This form raises vitamin D levels more effectively than vitamin D2.

The formula uses plant-based vitamin D3, Vitamin D3V®, produced from algae rather than lanolin from sheep's wool. That makes all multis in the Elke Dag range suitable for vegans.

Research also shows that from the age of 60, a good vitamin D status becomes even more important. Daily use of a supplement with at least 20 µg vitamin D may help reduce the risk of falls in adults aged 60 and over.

Higher vitamin D for 50+

With age, muscle strength declines and posture becomes less stable. Scientists suspect that vitamin D supports muscle strength and may therefore help people stay steadier on their feet.

Falls are a risk factor for bone fractures in men and women aged 60 and over. Because vitamin D is important for older adults, Elke Dag 50+ provides 35 µg vitamin D3 per tablet.

The formula contains both vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Current intake guidelines mainly reflect the amount needed for normal blood clotting.

These guidelines do not distinguish between vitamin K1 and vitamin K2, even though vitamin K experts do support that distinction.

Vitamin K1 and K2

Vitamin K1 is absorbed mainly by the liver and mainly supports activation of clotting factors there.

Vitamin K2, especially menaquinone-7, has a longer half-life and is distributed more widely through body tissues. That makes it more effective in activating vitamin K-dependent proteins outside the liver, such as osteocalcin and MGP.

These proteins help direct calcium to the right place in the body, including the bones. Maintaining healthy bones is an important focus for this age group.

Elke Dag 50+ therefore contains 45 µg vitamin K1 as phylloquinone and 90 µg vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7.

Stable K2 in a mineral-rich formula

Vitamin K2 is a highly sensitive substance. In combination with calcium or magnesium, the amount in a tablet or capsule can decline sharply.

That makes vitamin K2 technically difficult to use in products with high amounts of calcium or magnesium. Vitals therefore uses K2VITAL™ DELTA, which remains stable even in mineral-rich formulas such as the Elke Dag multis.

K2VITAL™ DELTA is made with a patented microencapsulation process. Two protective layers shield the fat-soluble K2 particles from interaction with other ingredients.

Vitals also had the stability of K2VITAL™ DELTA tested by an independent laboratory. It performed best compared with other vitamin K2 brands.

Calcium, magnesium, and zinc

The Elke Dag multis use Aquamin® Magnesium from Irish seawater and Aquamin® Calcium from red algae, Lithothamnion sp.

These algae absorb minerals and trace elements from seawater and store them. After they die, calcification occurs and the algae turn white or light grey. These calcified algae are harvested from waters near the coast of Iceland.

Aquamin® contains relatively high levels of calcium at 32% and magnesium at 35% compared with other compounds. That makes it possible to include meaningful amounts in a multivitamin tablet or capsule that already contains many active ingredients.

Absorption is not compromised. Calcium and magnesium from Aquamin® have been shown to be well absorbed, possibly also supported by the naturally present trace minerals in these raw materials.

Highly absorbable zinc and silicon

The formula uses zinc as an amino acid chelate, bisglycinate. In this form, each mineral particle is strongly bound to two glycine molecules.

This form reaches the small intestine well, is absorbed very effectively, and is gentle on the stomach. Vitals specifically uses Albion® Minerals chelates, identified by the TRAACS® trademark.

TRAACS® stands for The Real Amino Acid Chelate System. Albion created this brand to distinguish these chelates from other, potentially inferior and unstable amino acid chelates.

Albion holds more than 100 patents worldwide that support the process, science, and structure of its amino acid chelated minerals.

MESOPOROSIL and carotenoids

Silicon is one of the most common trace elements in the human body after iron and zinc. Much is still being studied, but scientific publications on its role are increasing.

Until recently, the most absorbable forms were mainly liquid silicon products such as MMST and ch-OSA. These are less convenient for many people and are not suitable for inclusion in multivitamin tablets or capsules.

MESOPOROSIL® from Eytelia is a new form of silicon that is highly absorbable and suitable for capsules and tablets. Its patented technology helps the silicon dissolve well in digestive juices and form well-absorbable orthosilicic acid.

The same technology helps prevent dissolved orthosilicic acid from clumping together in the gastrointestinal tract. That keeps absorption high. Well-absorbable silicon in capsule or tablet form is still rare.

Carotenoids and broad daily support

Lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin are naturally occurring carotenoids. The body contains high concentrations of these substances in the retina and macula of the eye.

The body cannot make lutein and zeaxanthin itself, so they must come from food. They occur in green leafy vegetables and in red, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables.

Meso-zeaxanthin occurs only to a limited extent in food. It is found, for example, in salmon skin and in the skin and flesh of trout, and it is mainly formed in the retina from lutein through an enzymatic reaction.

There are indications that supplementing all three carotenoids offers benefits compared with supplementing only lutein and zeaxanthin.

Elke Dag 50+ is a very complete multivitamin because it combines vitamins and minerals with additional ingredients. It contains higher amounts of lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin than the other Elke Dag multis.

It also provides coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, pterostilbene, lycopene from tomato, and hesperidin from orange.

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Patented ingredients

Aquamin® is a registered trademark of Marigot Ltd.

K2VITAL® DELTA is a registered trademark of Kappa Bioscience.

Lycored LycoBeads® is a registered trademark of Lycored (Orange, New Jersey).

MESOPOROSIL® is a registered trademark of Eytelia

Quatrefolic® is a patented product and a registered trademark of Gnosis.

TRAACS™ (The Real Amino Acid Chelate System) is a registered trademark of Albion Minerals.

VitaCholine® is a registered trademark of Balchem Corporation.

Vitamin D3V® is a registered trademark of ProTecNutra Ltd.

Other information

Dietary supplement Vitamin supplement

Distributor Vitals Voedingssupplementen BV
Pieter Lieftinckweg 29
1505 HX Zaandam

Last page change
21 maart 2026