Vitamin D deficiency in the Kingdom:
Vitamins are important bio-organic compounds that the human body can not, by its very nature, create - God Almighty - to be able to form most of it in its internal tissues. Therefore, it is an important vehicle, which needs the body from food sources in small quantities, because of its important role in the metabolism of the body, and help him to grow and maintain the vitality of the body. Vitamin D is a nutrient and at the same time a hormone in the body. Its most important sources are sun exposure, which is made under the skin after 5 minutes of exposure to the sun. Where 90% of the need of vitamin D of the sun so called (vitamin sun) and the rest, or 10% of the food.

In fact, there are two types of vitamin D: vitamin D (2) Erygocalphosphrol and its source of plant and vitamin D3 coli Calciferol and its source of sunlight as dehydrocholstrol in human skin turns to vitamin D3, which in turn turns through oxidation in the liver and kidney to active vitamin D Calcitriol. Exposure to the sun is enough for 10 minutes a day to provide us with 1000 IU of vitamin D, which is sufficient for the daily requirement of Vitamin D. This exposure is direct and sufficient for 10% of the body such as hands and feet. The best times for exposure to the sun is midday from 9 am to 3 pm (in winter) and in summer it is 8-10 am and 2-4 pm What is common in some people because of the presence of ultraviolet "B" at this time, which contributes to the formation of vitamin "d" by the skin. You may also be exposed half an hour for 3-4 days a week to provide us with the necessary vitamin D. "We must note that the presence of creams on the skin or glass or not directly exposure to sunlight reduces the supply of vitamin" D ".

Although sunlight is the main source of this vitamin, so most people may not get enough vitamin D from food sources. This vitamin is available in varying amounts in some of the food sources available on the market. The liver of the whale, shark liver, halibut liver and fatty fish such as tuna, sardines, mackerel and herring are a good source of vitamin D. Oysters and caviar are also available with high amounts of vitamin D, as well as milk, especially whole-fat milk, eggs and ricotta cheese. Plant sources are one of the most vegetarian foods rich in vitamin D, which is often eaten with milk. It is recommended to eat low-sugar foods. And mushroom (especially mushrooms) that have been drying under the sun. There are also vitamin D-fortified foods such as milk and dairy products - some types of orange juice and some breakfast cereals as well as supplements and drugs.

The importance of Vitamin D in the treatment of calcium and phosphorus, which plays a role in bone health and muscle strength, plays a major role in the fight against many diseases, as previously thought. Many studies have concluded that vitamin D is important in reducing the risk of infection. Colon, breast, heart disease and immunological diseases such as: Type I diabetes, influenza and cold diseases. Vitamin D deficiency is a health problem in many countries of the world, especially those with short summers or lack of sunshine, and no one disputes that the environment in the Arab world is sunny all year round. However, Arab societies are vulnerable to vitamin deficiencies The lack of exposure to the sun because the weather in Arab countries often tends to heat most of the year, which hinders people from practicing various activities outside the buildings, and the use of types of clothing that prevent the arrival of sunlight To the Skin, and dark skin color in most Arab societies, which increases the amount of time needed to make enough vitamin D, and the lack of public awareness in these communities of the importance of sunlight and healthy food culture. All these reasons have caused our societies to suffer many complications due to lack of this important vitamin "Vitamin D deficiency is related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, allergies, asthma, certain infectious diseases and cancer.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there is a lack of vitamin D in most people of all ages. Vitamin D deficiency causes many chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, some types of cancer, multiple sclerosis and infectious diseases. Such as tuberculosis and influenza.

Several recent studies have been conducted in Saudi Arabia and concluded that vitamin D deficiency is very common among natural Saudis. This percentage is 97% in some studies. A study in Jeddah published in the Saudi Journal of Medicine found that vitamin D deficiency among Saudis is 100%. In a study at the Center of Vital Indicators at the Faculty of Science, King Saud University and Prince Mteb bin Abdullah's Chair for Osteoporosis, we found that vitamin D deficiency is more common among people with type 2 diabetes than non-infected patients. These results indicate the need to increase vitamin D in the Saudi diet and to promote vitamin D supplementation in all age groups.
 
A study of 61 infants with rickets had an average age of 16.5 months. The study found very low concentrations of 25 (OH) D in blood at 8 ng / ml and the normal level should be at least 30 ng / ml. In another study, rickets were also associated with vitamin D deficiency in 59% of Saudi adolescents
Vitamin D deficiency is very common among adolescent girls in Saudi Arabia (80%) with levels of 25 (OH) D below 25 nm / l. The normal level when using the nano-soluble unit per liter should be at least 75. In a recent study, the concentration of 25 (OH) D was measured in 93 healthy men and athletes and 91% were found to be deficient in 25 (OH) D (their mean concentration was 20 ng / ml). In addition, athletes with severe deficiencies were much younger than those with less severe deficiencies.

Therefore, it is necessary to obtain vitamin D and calcium in sufficient quantities appropriate during childhood to prevent diseases, God willing, as well as in adolescence to form the optimal bone mass, which represents the period of rapid growth of the skeleton. Studies have shown that low bone mass (osteoporosis) is widespread among the Arab population when compared to Western societies. Several studies in Saudi Arabia have confirmed the lack of bone mass and the prevalence of vulnerability among Saudi women over the age of 50 compared with their counterparts in western countries. Chronic vitamin D deficiency is likely to play a pivotal role in this.
Factors contributing to vitamin D deficiency and preventive ways:
In addition to presenting some of the comparative studies above, we can conclude that Arab societies in general and Saudi society in particular have low concentrations of vitamin D. This is a harbinger and indicator of serious health problems. The main reason for this deficiency may be the reduction in vitamin D's normal body production due to insufficient exposure to the sun so that the body can manufacture its vitamin needs. Studies have shown that the amount of vitamin D food intake through food is low and insufficient to meet the needs of the body for the first two, the lack of the availability of this vitamin in food products and the second is not to eat milk, dairy products and fish adequately. In general, these foods need to be fortified with Vitamin D so that they can supply the body with their needs.

Food fortification:
The dietary intake of vitamin D in Saudi Arabia is 100 IU (50), which is very low compared with the recommended international intake of vitamin D (800 IU). This recommended consumption is for people who have a normal proportion of the vitamin in the blood. If there is a deficiency of this vitamin in the body, it needs doses that may be large to fill the shortage and then to lower doses permanently to maintain the level of blood within the normal range.
This low intake of vitamin D is considered insufficient to balance body-stored vitamin D and body consumption, without adequate exposure to sunlight, so that the only alternative alternative may be through food fortification.
The kingdom needs a program similar to the milk-boosting program of the 1930s in the United States that eliminated rickets there. Two decades ago, when the UK was facing vitamin D deficiency, rickets succeeded in overcoming these consequences through widespread vitamin D supplementation.
Several other countries consume a large amount of vitamin D in food intake through food fortification, dietary supplements, or large consumption of fish. However, as mentioned earlier, a few foods contain vitamin D, such as fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel) and whale liver oils are among the best sources with low amounts of vitamin D in cow liver, cheese, egg yolk (52), as well as dairy products supported by milk such as cheese, dairy and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, as well as some types of orange juice, ghee and other food products supported by flour.
Vitamin D intake in countries such as Japan and Norway is more common because of increased fish consumption rather than food fortification. A recent study showed that orange juice fortified with vitamin D (1000 IU / 240 ml orange juice) for 12 weeks increased and safely increased concentrations of 25 (OH) D3 in adults. An important study was recently published for Prince Muteeb Bin Abdullah's Chair for Research on Vital Indicators of Osteoporosis. The study suggested that to maintain optimal levels of 25 (OH) -vitamin D in the blood, especially during the summer season, vitamin D supplementation should be increased for Saudis residing in the Central Region Where high temperature prevents the use of sunlight to get vitamin D in contrast to the winter season.
In light of the above-mentioned scientific studies, it is clear that the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Arab societies, especially among women and children, necessitates early diagnosis as much as possible and appropriate actions should be taken through public health campaigns, Health, medicine and food use of vitamin D supplementation and food fortification in this important article to combat this widespread shortage among the citizens of the Kingdom. Therefore, this paper requires the Saudi Food and Drug Administration to develop new strategies to control this disease by adding vitamin D in the various food products that all age groups can consume in daily life.
In order to avoid the health problems associated with vitamin D deficiency in mothers and infants, it is recommended that milk, cereals and fruit juices be included in the daily diet of Saudi Arabia and regulated by national policies to strengthen food in the country. In the near future, research activities should focus on the appropriate daily intake of vitamin D, which would prevent vitamin D deficiency with limited sun exposure in Saudi society.
In my humble podium, I call on the colleagues in the Ministry of Health who, in my opinion, see their diligent, sincere and wonderful work by all standards as well as the sincere members of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority to act urgently to address this problem.
The scientific team of the Saudi Society for Osteoporosis and the members of the chair of Prince Mteeb bin Abdullah for the research of vital indicators of osteoporosis put all their scientific expertise through their specialized international and national teams at the disposal of the Ministry and the Authority and aspire to work together to develop strategies and plans based on solid scientific foundations. Vitamin D deficiency among citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia.
Prince Muttab bin Abdullah's Chair for Osteoporosis has since established an unprecedented scientific activity in areas related to vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis in the Kingdom with the publication of 12 scientific papers in 2012 and a scientific paper in 2013 only in international scientific journals and the establishment of dozens of scientific seminars and workshops Specialized work which makes him a leading leader to help tackle various bone health problems.