Vitamin D is the real superhero

It is unlikely that Dracula ever considered the nutritional aspects of his favourite (liquid) diet, and that must have been his undoing. Indeed, even his aversion to garlic — regarded today as beneficial, though aromatically overpowering — could have been a contributory factor, as a pair of researchers now aver that the average super villains’ poor diet and lack of sunlight made them deficient in Vitamin D and, thus, prone to be vanquished by well-fed heroes who basked in sunshine.

The importance of Vitamin D is only now being recognised anyway, so the ancient bad guys — vampires, werewolves, goblins et al — were obviously hobbled by this weakness. Now that this illuminating theory about the probable cause of the inevitable defeat of the “dark forces” has been revealed, future evildoers may just take better care of their diet and do something about their allergy to sunshine.

Of course, since the research was based largely on the characters of J R R Tolkien’s novels, results are far from conclusive, especially as certain good guys who also prefer sunless adventures do prevail over their foes. The reference, obviously, is to Batman; but perhaps the butler makes sure the billionaire crime fighter has his green vegetables and Vitamin D supplements regularly. Dracula could consider shifting to a Mediterranean diet from his Transylvanian one.