from:World Health Organization News Release

On 1 October 2010, WHO experts and representatives of the Public Advice International Foundation (PA International) met to discuss vitamin-D deficiency in the WHO European Region.

Discussions covered the mission and strategy of PA International and WHO/Europe’s work on nutrition, physical activity and obesity, including policy tools such as the European Charter on Counteracting Obesity and the WHO European Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy 2007–2012.

At the meeting, the partners agreed on future activities. WHO/Europe will:

• comprehensively review the literature on vitamin-D deficiency and its determinants;

• map vitamin-D deficiency in the Region as extensively as possible;

• develop an integrated plan to tackle it within the framework of a strategy on micronutrient deficiencies outlined in the Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy;

• coordinate with WHO headquarters on the continuing development of micronutrient guidelines.

PA International will outline a fundraising initiative to support these activities, in coordination with WHO/Europe and with the participation of stakeholders.

The meeting followed a recent workshop, organized by the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) and Public Advice International, on the widespread vitamin-D deficiency in Europe.

People need vitamin D to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphate, which are in turn needed for the normal mineralization of bone, muscle contraction, nerve conduction and general functioning in all cells of the body. Those at risk of vitamin-D deficiency include infants, adolescents and elderly people.

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See also Vitamin D Life

• Overview Deficiency of vitamin D

• All items: Deficiency of Vitamin D items

• All items in category Europe items

• Vitamin D insufficiency in UK youths – 37X more likely if dark skin – July 2011

• Vitamin D in the UK = Vitamin D Association

• UK elderly need vitamin D – 86 % less than 30 ng - Jan 2010

• Scotland and Vitamin D

• UK survey of vitamin D knowledge of midwives - 2011

• 2000 IU daily dose of vitamin D would save Germany 37 billion euros – Aug 2010

• Vitamin D should Improve mortality in Nordic Countries – Feb 2011 Grant

• Recommend 2500-4000 IU per day to reduce all-cause mortality by 18%– Grant Netherlands April 2010

• Vitamin D could save More than 10,000 Canadian lives annually LEF

• Only 18 % of Swedes got recommended amount of vitamin D – Feb 2011

• 30 % of US had less than 20 ng of vitamin D - CDC March 2011

• Doubling of people less than 30 ng of vitamin D - 75% of whites and 90% of blacks – Feb 2010