Do you have vitamin D supplements?

[alreadytaken]

Please excuse a white person posting - and I hope the answer is that you know all this already, but just in case you havent read it elsewhere

Vitamin D may be protective against Covid. Dept Health recommendation is for everyone to take a small supplement in winter anyway. But they dont shout it from the rooftops.

Some groups - including those with darker skin, the elderly and anyone who is indoors a lot or covers their skin when outdoors - are advised to consider a supplement all year.

Here are a couple of the studies suggesting this is important for Covid.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7456194/ and

journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0239252#pone-0239252-g002

Ah - did you post this a few days ago? I meant to ask if you wouldn’t mind reposting it here too.

Yes I’ve been taking vit D from the start, I was prescribed during pregnancy then continued (when I remembered) as I find I feel brighter somehow when taking it.

Studies are showing there’s a link with BAME (I know, I know) low vit D and Covid. Kind of makes sense as it doesn’t seem to be widespread for Black people in sunnier climes (Caribbean, Africa), yet we were adversely affected in U.K. and US though this can be linked to job type = greater exposure.

Don't let this descend into acrimony.

I use BETTER YOU 1OOO D3 spray twice a day from H + B

It's been posted elsewhere on mumsnet more than once, yes. But it was obvious last time not everyone knew about it, hence posting it in more than one place.

I doubt this is the sole reason for the higher rates in certain groups but at least this is something where it's easy to take action.

Overdosing can sometimes cause problems so its not a case of the more the better - but everyone should take a little between October and March.

Thanks for sharing. My mum always made us take extra Vit D and C when were growing up, especially in the winter and I’ve just carried on with it. DHs family are Caribbean and do the same and I’m aware that many of my non white friends also take them so I’d hope it’s common practice. I read a lot about Vit D early on in the pandemic and the evidence does seem to point to it being beneficial. It’s certainly more sensible than some of the questionable remedies I’ve seen doing the rounds on WhatsApp...

Yes, I make sure that the DC and I have multivitamins with vit D. I figure every little helps.

I have always taken some because of low vitamin d levels. I need to make the effort of remembering to take them as often as I can. As in Daily and not every two days.

I know that Corona is affecting BAME dispositionally, yes, it can be down to having Low Vitamin D levels, but also, we should not ignore reasons why they are being affected disproportionally in regards to jobs and living conditions. Vitamins d is what helps you survive, but it does not take away infection rate.

I’ve started taking it again and noticed a huge difference. I was feeling sluggish and incredibly tried before but I now have more energy so I need to remember to stick with it

One survey in the UK showed that about 1 in 5 adults and about 1 in 5 children in the UK have low vitamin D levels. More people have low vitamin D levels in the winter and spring because of less exposure to sunlight.

Pleased to see that this is something parents often encouraged - but check on your elderly relatives as elderly skin is less effective at making vitamin D.

Obviously not a substitute for taking other precautions to reduce infection but something everyone can do easily that might make a difference to how ill you get if you do get Covid.

I do. And I give supplements to family members.

I was so unwell last year and blood tests showed very low vitamin D. I take supplements now. I know they are not a magic cure all, but they have definitely made a big difference to me.
Thanks for posting this.

My daughter just tested positive for covid, the young children and her husband are all self isolating from yesterday. Waiting for his results to come through still.
She is doing ok. Thankfully, they also have been taking vitamin supplements, so fingers crossed it is not too bad for them. ( Still worried though, as you do)

Yes, one thing our HV was great at was promoting vit D from birth if breastfeeding.

What dose is everyone taking? When I was pregnant I was advised to take more than what was in the prenatal vitamin due to being mixed race but now I can’t remember what the recommended dose was

I take 20 micrograms a day now. but that's what GP said to me.
Previously, I had a prescription for a much higher dose, but then she said my bloods were ok now, and just to buy from the Health shop. I eat a lot of oily fish too, and eggs, and always go out for a walk every day for half an hour (at least )even if it's bad weather.

My women’s multivitamin has 10ug (200% nutrient reference value). I aim to take it daily.

Was reminded to do so at my doctor’s last winter and figured it was easier just making it a habit.

I take 10ug, which is the same recommended dose for my 19 month old and 4 year old (I think) so I may ring a pharmacist and ask if that’s the right amount for an adult.

Sad how we underestimate the power of sunshine. Even in countries where it shines 365 people avoid it like the plague.

I used Betteryou 4000IU between March and May my D levels went from about 45 to 80 nmol/L
I continue to take it as a daily essential even when I manage to get some sun on my skin.

DD takes 10 ug in the Peppa Pig gummies (the rest of us are white, though I realise we could also be deficient).

A few years ago my GP told me I was vitamin D deficient and since then it features much more heavily in my supplement intake. Its the only supplement I gave to my DCs during lockdown. Off to get them junior floradix today.

I had a private test a couple of years ago and was told that I am severely vitamin D deficient. I am mixed race.

Better order some for me and DD. I do worry that people will panic buy if word spreads though, making things harder for those who need it most.

What is the side effect of over consumption?

I think it can affect your kidneys, heart, and too much calcium in the blood is called hypercalcaemia, fartyface.

From Dept Health website "What happens if I take too much vitamin D?
Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.

If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people.

Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years.

Children aged 1 to 10 years should not have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day. Infants under 12 months should not have more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) a day."

If your skin is very dark you might want to go for a higher figure than the general recommendation, while staying below 100 micrograms. Many people have suggested that Dept Health recommendations are too low and certainly the level they consider "adequate" is below the level the American study suggests is most beneficial for Covid.

White people can be deficient too, I had low levels myself when I had a test. By the end of winter white people who dont supplement are likely to be deficient.

It is sometimes possible to get your gp to do a blood test and you can test privately, I used this lab myself www.vitamindtest.org.uk/ because my gp didnt consider my level bad enough to do a follow up test.

@yolio

Don't let this descend into acrimony.

I use BETTER YOU 1OOO D3 spray twice a day from H + B

Worth noting that if you take the larger doses you probably need to get your levels tested every now and again. I was taking this dose but it pushed my vit D levels so high that I was at risk of hypercalcemia. Not so much of an issue with the lower doses. Everyone should probably be getting there levels checked once a year anyway.

Just realised I havent said that the body does store vitamin D, it's fat soluble. That's why white people who get outdoors enough usually start October with a decent level but it drops each month from then through to the end of March. In April the sun gets strong enough to produce vitamin D in skin again, it doesnt do that from October to March. People with darker skin who are outdoors a lot/ eat a lot of foods containing vitamin D might be fine in summer, not in winter.

Getting tested now and then is sensible.