Should the Government be handing out free doses of Vitamin D NOW?

[LWJ70]

I have recently discovered (from reading very new scientific abstracts) that low Vit D levels leave us more prone to respiratory tract viruses. Most people only associate it with a healthy skeleton. After a long, cold winter, millions of us could be slightly deficient. Our most vulnerable section of society is unable to make use of the sunlight, which is beneficial.Could this explain the greatly differing pathways of coronavirus throughout the globe? Read these abstracts:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30675873
clinmedjournals.org/article...ases-and-epidemiology-jide-3-030.php?jid=jide

Difficult to decipher the abstract's stats without looking at the full paper. It is a summary from 25 previous studies with a grand total of 11,321 participants. It is published by US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health with a big participation from the Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London.

One thing is clear though:

''Vitamin D supplementation was safe, and it protected against ARIs overall. Very deficient individuals ................... experienced the benefit.

(ARI = acute respiratory infections)

I am amazed why this info is not being published in the wider public domain. Instead we have celebrity workouts, toilet rolls and memes.

Elderly people in sunny climates are probably not aware that they have afforded themselves a greater fighting chance to survive coronavirus.

There are 5.4 million people in the UK above the age of 75 years. The majority of them are locked in their houses (or they would prefer to be). If they leave their houses to buy vitamin supplements from a pharmacist, they could be exposed to the coronavirus. This is not far-fetched- a coronavirus can survive nine days or more on plastic/metal surfaces. Many parts of the UK are at a perfect temperature now for viral stability. If two thirds of infected people are asymptomatic, the infection is already everywhere.

My point is, why doesn't the NHS select the most vulnerable and make a mass delivery of Vit D or a broad spectrum of supplements?

[MedSchoolRat]

hydroxychloroquine & azithromycin were usual care? Wow.

This pilot study has several limitations as it is not double-blind placebo controlled.

WHY does the trial registration list the corporate sponsors (FAES Farma & Dynamic Solutions) but the article acknowledgements doesn't? It's supposed to be a good journal but I can't even see a Conflict of Interest statement. Who paid the $2880 APC?

[feelingverylazytoday]

@eeyore228

I've seen a fair few articles relating to vitmains. It's important to take but why is it down to the government to provide it for free??

According to some people on this forum the government should be providing literally everything for free.

[SallySeven]

We have a very laissez faire approach to supplementation in UK public health.

Will they ever get round to addressing falling iodine levels in young women?

Always kicking the can down the road.

[AlexaShutUp]

I think it's a valid suggestion, OP. I started taking a vitamin d supplement in around March or April. I first started to research it when I heard that people from BAME communities in Europe and the US were being disproportionately affected by COVID, while people with a similar genetic mix in Asia, Africa etc didn't seem to be so badly hit. My Asian DH has previously suffered from a vitamin D deficiency here in the UK, so I wondered if there was a link and quickly came across all of the research regarding Vitamin D and respiratory health. It seemed a no-brainer to me.

I also take Vitamin C and magnesium.

[TheKeatingFive]

How does this stack up with high deaths in Florida/India, not exactly noted for lack of sunshine?

[lljkk]

According to study on OP's link, most people in Cordoba Spain (where the experiment was) have vitamin D deficiency, too. Hot sunny part of Spain (!) Maybe it's too hot to go out in the sun?

[ancientgran]

I take vitamin D, I could get it free, over 60 with osteopenia, but it is cheap and I just buy a packet at the supermarket. Couldn't be bothered with going online, ordering a prescription, picking it up, taking it to pharmacy. Even as someone retired I think my time is worth more. I think the ones I usually grab are about £2 and it is a 2 or 3 month supply, so probably maximum of 25p per week. I think most people can afford that and if not then ask the GP.

[OverTheRainbow88]

Taking vit D supplements is especially important for those with darker skin.

[OverTheRainbow88]

@lljkk

What’s the saying... only mad dogs and the English go out in the mid day heat!

Lots of the Spanish I guess are working inside most of the day and avoid going outside when it’s super hot- hence a siesta lifestyle

[Keepdistance]

The point of fortifyimg would be you dont have to remember to take it.
The study which suggested fortifying flour said it cost pence i think but the benefits - thinks like reduced MS etc which cost the health service.
Basically it's in few foods. A lot of people dont sunbathe or work indoors or shifts. Or they burn easily. Even kids -they have to have suntan lotion on for school or preschool.
Plus it affects blood sugar too.

[Mintypylonsfryingsurplus]

Its good to see that this is now being researched properly.
I posted about this too in March as it seemed there was a link. Also vitamin D is needed to activate T cells which are now being cited as an alternative way some people fight off virus/or are non symptomatic. Especially as antibodies last only a short time. When researching 'hot' countries some people living there actually have low vitamin D for various reasons. Or health problems which then counter out the vitamin D.
Homeless people who spend a lot of time outdoors were not as affected as shift workers, even given their often poverty driven lives.
Norwegians have better vitamin D levels due to high fish diet and fortified food.
Its a cheap supplement we should be encouraged to top up now days are shorter and temperatures drop.

[Mintypylonsfryingsurplus]

www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-21/why-has-covid-spared-l-a-homeless-people

[Mintypylonsfryingsurplus]

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100307215534.htm

[LWJ70]

Mumsnet have pulled a thread recommending all UK adults take 4000IU of vitamin D3 daily. It already had approx 9 pages of posts in 3 days.

This is worrying

[QueenPawPaws]

Bumping this because I know it's old but think it's important
I'm pale skin, red hair, eat well and take 3000 vitamin d spray every day plus a multivitamin
Just had a letter to say I'm extremely deficient and need to start a prescription loading dose
And I was worried I was overdoing it with the spray!!
Due to shielding I've been sent vitamin d but it's such a low dose I would need 7 a day just to get to 3000. If you have any symptoms please ask for blood tests