There is a pivotal development in Israel that is of vital importance. This
is likely be a very crucial way to prevent and even treat Corona disease.
The Israeli Health Ministry, a special parliamentarian Corona commission, and
other experts, have concluded that enhanced levels of Vitamin D and the
consumption of healthy food are prime factors in connection with the Corona
virus.
These recommendations have yet to be implemented ASAP on a wide scale. This can
be considered an official breakthrough in a campaign to boost the immune
system as a COVID-19 countermeasure, which will surely reduce the danger
stemming from this virus.
Enclosed is a translation of a letter from Prof. Ronit Endevelt, the director
of the Nutrition Division in the Services of Public Health, in the Ministry of
Health, and a summary of a meeting of the Special Committee on the Novel
Coronavirus: “Examining the State’s Preparations for Epidemics and
Earthquakes”.
It is to note that there is an ongoing debate about the exact required Vitamin
D dose, but the recommendation of 2,000 UI for an adult is deemed to be rather
safe. On the other hand, an addition of vitamin D in milk and soy drinks is
questionable.
Apart from the issue of Vitamin D, one does not have to be President Trump in
order to get Vitamin C and zinc.
--------
A letter from Prof. Ronit Endevelt, the director of the Nutrition Division in the Services of Public Health, in the Ministry of Health:
 |
| Prof. Ronit Endevelt |
Israeli Health Ministry
Nutrition Division
Reference: 391339820
11th October, 2020
To
Heads of the nutrition divisions of the
Health Maintenance Organization (to update the management and
spokespersons)
Mangers of pharmacy departments at the HMOs
Spokespersons of the Health Ministry
Subject: Vitamin D and Corona Guidelines for the
public and caregivers
In epidemiological observations vitamin D deficiency has been linked to have a
negative effect on infections and morbidity in respiratory systems.
The proper level of Vitamin D correlates with a reduction of infection and morbidity with COVID 19. Extensive intervention studies have not yet been performed that would prove the effectiveness of vitamin D in preventing human morbidity. In light of the findings mentioned above corona epidemic, it is recommended to maintain an adequate level of Vitamin D, by exposure to the sun or by taking a supplement. The use of vitamin D in an overly massive dose overdose, especially as a large bolus has been proven to be responsible for an increase in falls and fractures.
To have an effect on the immune system, a daily dose of vitamin D is a clear preference. Recommended is 800 to 1000 IU per day for individuals with normal weight, 2000 IU for people who are overweight, and 4000 IU per day for people with extreme obesity.
It is not advisable to exceed these doses. Vitamin overloading doses, such as
drinking a whole vial of vitamin drops once a week or once a month, or using
preparations in higher dosages than mentioned above is not recommended.
When purchasing a liquid vitamin D preparation at a pharmacy, one has to pay attention to the concentration of vitamin D per drop. Today, such preparations are sold in a concentration of 200, 400 and 1000 IU per drop. The pharmacist must explain to the patient, how many drops he must take in order to reach the recommended dose.
As for children, one should aim at a moderate exposure to the sun or to give vitamin
D according to the recommendation, ie: 400 units for infants up to one year of
age, and 600 units per day for older children.
During quarantine due to the corona epidemic, when sun exposure is not
possible, the Pediatric Council and the Pediatricians' Association recommends
the following: up to 1000 units per day for 6 weeks, from the age of one year
upwards, just for this limited period, and afterwards return to the recommended
dose.
The Ministry of Health is currently working on establishing the supplement
regulations for vitamin D in milk and soy drinks.
This recommendation document was written in collaboration with Prof. Sophia Ish-Shalom and the Association of Pediatricians, the Society for Clinical
Nutrition, and the Association Department of Mother and Child in the Ministry
of Health and the Nutrition Division.
Sincerely
Prof. Ronit Endevelt
Director of the Nutrition Division in the Services of Public Health in
the Ministry of Health.
Copy:
Prof. Hezi Levi
Director General of the Ministry of Health
Nutrition Division
Ministry of Health
P.O.B 1176 Jerusalem 91010
Tel: 02-6228855 Fax 02-6247173
Hebrew Original:
https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/reports/nd-391339820/he/files_publications_corona_nd-391339820.pdf-------
A summary of a meeting of the Special Committee on
the Novel Coronavirus and for Examining the State’s Preparations for Epidemics
and Earthquakes
12th. October 2020
The Ministry of Health is promoting a reduction price of healthy food products This was revealed in the Corona Committee in the Knesset in a discussion on national food security.
In addition, the ministry is promoting a ban on advertising harmful foods to teenagers. Chairman of
the committee, Yifat Shasha-Bitton: It is necessary to determine a budget designated for this purpose,
including assistance to the aid non-profit organization. The Food Security Council: Today, about
200,000 families and about one million children are nutritionally insecure.In light of the danger arising from the possibilty that broad sections of the population will not be able
to afford healthy and nutritious food, and recognizing the importance of such food for dealing with the
corona virus, the Corona Committee today (Monday) discussed the question of national food security.
The discussion revealed that the Ministry of Health is currently promoting a reduction in the price of
healthy food, as well as a ban on advertising harmful food to youth. The committee's chairman, Yifat
Shasha-Bitton (Kulanu Party in the Likud), called for the issue to be addressed as an essential part of
the Corona crisis, the consequences of which will accompany us for a long time, and the government
must set a designated budget for the area, including assistance to the non-profit organization, to
establish a standard definition of a basket of healthy food and to subsidize or reduce the cost of such
a basket.Eitan Yitzhak, deputy head of the National Emergency Authority in the Ministry of Defense, estimated
that the virus itself would accompany humanity for at least another year, but the economic recovery
would take another two to three years. He added that the wave of morbidity that is expected will be
double the size in the coming winter and spring, and warned of an increase in unemployment, an
increase in the size of the needy population, difficulty in monitoring and mapping their needs, and low
capabilities to provide those sections of the public access to healthy food. He spoke about the authority's activities, which coordinate with the existing structures, associations
and local authorities, and focus on the individual and the family, while being able to control and inform.
He said the authority relies on local authority data, relating to expectations of what will be needed a year
from now, to ensure enough food for the entire population. Boaz Toporovsky (Yesh Atid-TLM Party) warned of a decline in the quality of operations by the
non-profit organizations and called on government ministries to learn how to be exact in reaching the
needy, while Iman Khatib-Yassin (Joint List) called for not forgetting young families with children, and
warned of obesity in the Arab society, due to a lack of healthy food. According to Prof. Ronit Endevelt, of the Ministry of Health's Nutrition Division, the national food
security, i.e. the availability of healthy and nutritious food to all citizens, is subject to risk when there
are changes in behavior such those that are caused by unemployment, and the risk of changes in trade
agreements. She emphasized that healthy and nutritious food is critical for dealing with the virus, as
being underweight impairs the body's immune capacity, while obesity increases the risk of getting
Corona disease by 46%, and 48% (respectively) and can even cause death.
Carmit Safra, a nutritionist and consultant for improving food environment at the Ministry of Health,
added that about 50% of Israeli citizens have been eating more than usual since the outbreak of the
epidemic, about 50% consume more sweets and snacks, there has been a 40% increase in demand for
food from non-profit organizations, and the resulting cost of diabetes and obesity is about NIS 10
million annually. She talked about the ministry's activities for labeling high-sugar products, education
through lesson plans, and the ministry's recommendation to prevent the advertising of harmful foods to
teenagers, to reduce or control the price of healthy products, and to remove the control over prices of
unhealthy products. Eli Cohen, CEO of “Pitchon Lev”, warned that the welfare departments in the local authorities have
been collapsing since the outbreak of the crisis - and cannot be relied on to carry out government
activities, and that in financial terms aid organizations have distributed more food in recent months
than all government aid. The plans that have been presented by Government ministries are unrealistic
- the welfare departments of the local authorities have been collapsing even before the corona and
there is no one to provide a solution for citizens who find themselves facing starvation.Instead of working together with the aid organizations that are familiar with the needs and with the
people in the field, the State of Israel chooses to build new programs and we are not far from the day
when people who are hungry will become ill and die. The crisis will continue for a long time and we
do not see the horizon. “The budget for food aid must be included in the base of the government
budget - there is no more important issue at the moment.” According to Dorit Eldar, president of the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition, the state must
immediately reduce the cost of a healthy food basket, prepare a “purple label” for food, and strengthen
the status of the Food Security Council legally. Miki Levy (Yesh Atid-TLM Party), one of the initiators
of the discussion, added that he submitted a bill on the matter. "In this area, too, immediate preventive measures are needed for routine food security, emergency
inventory and a comprehensive response must be provided, for the possible aggravation of food
insecurity, among underprivileged populations. We see the economic reality around us - and the worst
is yet to come. The economic crisis will have serious social consequences. Many of the associations
themselves are already struggling to survive due to a lack of donations, and damage to food and
nutrition systems could significantly exacerbate the expected damage to vulnerable populations in
particular, and threaten economic, social and political stability in the medium and long term. Even
before the corona, there were hundreds of thousands of citizens in Israel who suffered from a lack
of food security. " Prof. Dov Chernichovsky, chairman of the National Council for Food Security, warned that there are
already about 200,000 families and about two million children in food insecurity. Original (Heb.) : https://m.knesset.gov.il/News/PressReleases/Pages/press12102020i.aspx
Full protocol (Heb.): http://fs.knesset.gov.il/23/Committees/23_ptv_585104.doc
Meine Beiträge in Deutsch:
* 4. August 2020
Wichtige Studien werden weitgehend verschwiegen: Vitamin-D könnte das Coronavirus-Risiko erheblich reduzieren
* 5. April 2020
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