Most Poles have too little vitamin D. Its deficiency increases the risk of many pathologies, including dementia and cancer.
As much as 90 percent Poles considered healthy live with a deficiency of vitamin D, with 60 percent. it is a severe deficiency – blood level below 20 nanograms per milliliter – results from a population study conducted by Dr. Paweł Płudowski from the Institute of “Children’s Memorial Health Institute” (IPCZD) in Warsaw.
“For several years we have been repeating that the prevention of vitamin D deficiency should be included in the priorities of doctors, health care workers and health policy makers” – said Dr. Płudowski during the conference. – «The rules of vitamin D supplementation, both in Poland and other countries, are still strictly adhered to only in the first months of life, and then vitamin D is not administered or is administered sporadically. A natural consequence of this situation is the need to constantly make the public and the medical community aware of the role of vitamin D in the development and functioning of the human body ”.
Only about 20 percent. we take this vitamin in our body with food, the rest is produced in the skin under the influence of sunlight. To get 2000 units of vitamin (IU) a day, you would need to eat hundreds of grams of fish a day (which the Scandinavians do), dozens of egg yolks or hundreds of glasses of milk, which is unrealistic or unhealthy.
«Although in summer our body could produce enough vitamin D, barrier creams often prevent it, which we apply to ourselves in fear of skin cancer. This applies in particular to pregnant women who use the cream very intensively, wanting to avoid permanent stains on the skin »- pointed out prof. Bolesław Samoliński, public health specialist and dean of the Postgraduate Education Center of the Medical University of Warsaw.
“The relationship between the lack of vitamin D and rickets in children or osteoporosis in the elderly has been known for a long time” – said Prof. Samolinian. Meanwhile, the latest research has shown the presence of vitamin D in all cells of the body and its effects on almost everything. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with lower immunity, increased incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, autoimmune and degenerative diseases, problems with pregnancy and its complications, dementia and more frequent stays in a nursing home, and shorter life span. Children with vitamin D deficiency suffer from infectious diseases by 50%. often.
Supplementation with vitamin D in Europe’s inhabitants may be one of the important aspects of the prevention of many diseases – emphasized Dr. Płudowski.
The goal of supplementation with vitamin D is to obtain and maintain an optimal concentration of 25 (OH) D (calcidiol) in the blood. It should be between 30 and 50 nanograms per milliliter (75-125 nmol / L). In our latitude, with the current lifestyle, vitamin deficiencies are becoming common and supplementation is necessary, i.e. supplementing the deficiencies with vitamin D3 preparations. Recommended doses for adults are between 800 and 2000 units per day.
“Apart from the summer months, virtually everyone should take vitamin D supplements” – said prof. Roman Lorenc, scientific consultant at the Children’s Memorial Health Institute. – «Of course, the best way to do this is to measure the level of this vitamin in the body. However, if this is not possible, it can be assumed that for an adult 1000 units of vitamin D, taken daily or, for example, 7000 units once a week, is a suitable daily dose. There is no risk of overdosing with this dose ».