Experts call on the adult population in Israel to take vitamin D supplements, along with adhering to the guidelines • "Cheap, available and accessible treatment with a low risk of toxicity"
Taking Vitamins // Illustration photo: Gettyimages
Doctors and dietitians in Israel also agree with the recommendations and guide that it is recommended that the entire adult population in Israel take a vitamin D supplement, in light of the link between its high levels and reduced risk of coronary heart disease and due to the fact that a large part of the Israeli population suffers from vitamin deficiency.
"This treatment is simple, inexpensive, accessible and has a low risk of complications and toxicity," reads a position paper published today by the Association of Dietitians and Nutritionists in Israel (Atid) and physicians from the "Israeli Clinical Nutrition Society."
According to the recommendations, a daily supplement of vitamin D should be taken in a dose of 4000-1000 units per day for the entire population over the age of 18 for 12 weeks.
When the recommendation is aimed primarily at populations with low exposure to sunlight and a tendency to be overweight.
Nutrition experts also recommend that the Ministry of Health support a campaign to raise awareness of vitamin D deficiency before winter and encourage the measurement of vitamin D levels in a population at risk for this vitamin deficiency.
In recent months, a large number of research papers have been published from around the world that have found a link between a lack of vitamin D and the chance of contracting corona.
For example, a study of more than 109,000 corona subjects showed an inverse relationship between low levels of the vitamin and the rate of positive tests.
In a study that examined data from 1.3 million Clalit insureds, including 52,000 corona patients, the risk of coronary heart disease was almost twice as high in subjects with severe vitamin D deficiency. Another Israeli study by Leumit and Bar-Ilan University found that those with vitamin D deficiency were 1.45 times more likely to be infected with corona and 2 times more likely to be hospitalized, compared to those with normal vitamin D levels.
The study findings support that vitamin D deficiency was an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease and hospitalization.
This, too, by neutralizing other variables such as age and background diseases.
Vitamin D has a role in the calcium economy and its metabolism in fact.
Its proper level is essential for the prevention of fractures and rickets.
In addition, vitamin derivatives affect other systems in the body, including the immune system and the cardiovascular system.
Because exposure to the sun's has an effect on the level of the vitamin in the blood plasma, it was found that at the end of the winter, the level of the vitamin in the population is low.
Experts point out that although excessive intake of high levels of the vitamin have the potential for toxicity, it is a very rare condition.
"Reaching winter in good condition"
"Giving sweeping recommendations to the entire population based on observational studies alone is problematic and may turn out to be wrong. However, the recommendation is given in light of the much-anticipated benefit to the Israeli population during the winter months and the low risk of toxicity," the experts write.
The experts further note that in light of the fact that there is a deficiency of vitamin D in the population and in light of the high morbidity, it was decided to recommend taking a daily supplement.
Amit Ganor, CEO of Atid, the Association of Dietitians in Israel: "In light of the studies and works showing the link between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of developing corona, the position paper recommends a sweeping addition of vitamin D to the entire population in order to reach normal vitamin status in winter.
Since the production of vitamin D is mainly through exposure to the sun along with the fact that many people suffer from vitamin deficiency in the country it is recommended to supplement daily with vitamin D in the ranking according to the state of obesity.
It should be brought to the public consciousness that the daily supplementation of the vitamin is of utmost importance, similar to taking regular medications.
It is recommended not to underestimate the recommendation, even though it is a dietary supplement and not a medicine. "