Vitamin D Supplementation and covid-19 Risk

[MissConductUS]

Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths.

I just thought I'd pass this along as vitamin D supplementation is cheap and easy and so many of us in cloudy climates have low vitamin D levels. Too much is not better. 4000 IU per day is considered the largest safe dose for adults and should be reduced for children based on body weight.

The second vitamin D3 blood serum study in the world has been published yesterday.
It was a study of 780 Indonesian covid patients.

These are the conclusions of the study:
• Majority of the COVID-19 cases with insufficient and deficient Vitamin D status died.
• The odds of death was higher in older and male cases with pre-existing condition and below normal Vitamin D levels.
• When controlling for age, sex, and comorbidity, Vitamin D status is strongly associated with COVID-19 mortality.

When compared to cases with normal Vitamin D status, death was approximately 10.12 times more likely for Vitamin D deficient cases (OR=10.12; p

Indonesia was well organised then!

Dr John Campbell has been talking about VitD for ages.

The NHS on the other hand is releasing infographics saying there is no evidence for VitD helping. Useless.

I thought the NHS was now telling us to take it. They are in Scotland anyway. Yes we give the DC some jellies think is 1000 IU. For older children. As they are a bit like vampires right now. Have a spray for adults, can get it online. Minty

www.gov.scot/publications/vitamin-d-advice-for-all-age-groups/

I'm finding this quite interesting and wonder if there actually will be a link found in further studies. But I don't think it would hurt most people to supplement esp of the winter months.
I thought general advice was for adults to take it over winter anyway? I started last year in Oct and noticed a difference with my mood over winter was much better. I feel like I barely see light in winter working long days on a ward.

In summer I try and catch just a few minutes of sun on my skin before sun cream goes on.

There is another thread with useful info.

Lots of uk vitamins have less that 10micrograms. It's more like 2.5-5 unfortunately so many kids here may be deficient even with vitamins given.
Vit d might affect ARDs and clotting too.

Early studies suggest there is a correlation but not necessarily that taking vit D would help - so the NHS is right about the evidence.

This study is interesting and discusses why despite correlation, vit D may be helpful or harmful at different stages - but we just don’t know:

chrismasterjohnphd.com/covid-19/update-on-vitamin-d-and-covid-19-using-the-first-observational-study-released

I personally am taking vit D supplements, but I already did.

@chasingrainbows19

Why just a few minutes? 30 mins is the absolute minimum!

I rarely use sunscreen and only put it on kids after a couple of hours, they've never burnt, including trips to Italy and Africa (we are pale). Vit D is much more important and the sun is the most effective way to get it. Sunscreen manufacturers have profited hugely over our paranoia over the sun and put us at risk..

FWIW it's extremely rare for any of us to get a cold. None of us have ever had flu. We're the never sick family.

I am adding supplements during Covid but sunlight is key.

@Grobagsforever - It's great that you and your family have pale skin and don't burn, but that's not the case for everyone and it's irresponsible to tell people to go without sunscreen for an absolute minimum of 30 minutes - sunburn can occur within 15 minutes. Yes, vitamin D is important. but so is avoiding skin cancer.

I have been taking supplements since the start of the pandemic after reviewing the emerging research. Can anyone advise how long it takes for your levels to go up? Eg if you are deficient and you took a certain dosage a day, how long before you are no longer deficient?

@powerslidepanda

I'm certain grown adults can figure out their own burn limits and won't slavishly follow my practices!

I'm simply pointing out that sunscreen manufacturers have profited by making us overly paranoid and must accept some blame for low vit D levels. Do you remember when we didn't all coat our kids in factor 50 from April onwards?

Grobags, within limits I agree. I have used very little sunscreen with my family, although we do burn. We use other methods like sitting in shade, covering up etc. It means we can stay out longer. We only use sunscreen if we know we will be stuck in full sun for an extended time with no way of getting into shade.

Be wary of the VitD spray. A very popular brand sold in H&B badly stained the teeth of my DH and a few friends of mine.

I downloaded the DMinder app yesterday. It can calculate your likely vitamin D levels, based on the supplements you’re taking, food, age, body weight and the parameters you put in around sun exposure... skin colour, location, altitude, clothing. You can set a target level and it tells you how far you are off your goal. You can also set a stopwatch for time out in the sun, and it extrapolates from sun angle & latitude what you received vit D dose is. Other good stuff it tells you the dates of the year when the sun is at an angle high enough for the skin to produce vit D (31.5 deg). Not affiliated in any way besides being a happy new user. Currently free during pandemic, I think the premium upgrade is £1.99 usually.

You can also get a vitamin D mail order test for an NHS laboratory, Sandwell in the W Midlands, for a modest charge (£29 ish). You are sent a kit including mounted blotting paper and finger pricker. Send it back and get results in a few days.

I had severe deficiency a few years ago. When I did some research I was shocked to discover that the sun's angle is only at a point where we absorb vit d beween near end of april to near end of August! About a month after spring equinox to a month before autumn Equinox. So I just take a supplement every day of the year.

Thriva are doing online blood test
I’do then regularly as I suffer from low B12 and Vitamin D so I do regular tests for several things every 4 months
At the moment they are doing a offer where it’s £30 off
So for about 7 different tests it’s £32
It is a subscription type thing so you have to remember to cancel after you get your results if you don’t want it to carry on

@Grobagsforever I never actually stated how many minutes was a few? I'm not timing it.. It's probably weather dependant. If it's hot and sunny sat in my sun trap garden it will be less than if it's a milder day that's more bareable.

The NHS advice isn't numerical with how many minutes. Their advice state it isn't known how long is enough. But some is better than nothing.

I'm ginger with freckles. I actually burn less than friends with darker hair ( genetics of parents who tanned but didn't have ginger hair!) but I think there's a balance of absorbing vit D and not risking skin cancer and ageing to my skin!

@Frariedeamin uh oh I got mine from H&B but own brand.... my teeth are ok I think.

My youngest DS has problems with growing pains a couple of years ago but it was most likely a vitamin D deficiency. Our GP said that you need the equivalent of 30 mins sunlight on the skin from your hand to your shoulder in order to fully benefit from the sun. Some people 'bank' it over the winter months but many don't so for many people a supplement can be helpful anyway.

@MissConductUS

Early studies suggest there is a correlation but not necessarily that taking vit D would help - so the NHS is right about the evidence.

I prefer to trust clinical data on 330 covid deceased individuals with vit D3 deficiency and the 400 who survived with normal levels of vitamin D3.

You do realise that Public Health England have got vit D3 blood serum data from UK covid 19 patients. By the time they release this data, it will be too late and many thousands more will have died.

Read this:
www.newscientist.com/article/2241082-uks-coronavirus-science-advice-wont-be-published-until-pandemic-ends/

You won't see the UK data anytime soon.

But I don't think it would hurt most people to supplement esp of the winter months.

It's hurting me.

I had a severe deficiancy (single figures) and have not been able to get Vitamin D with my prescription.

So please don't take it if you don't need it.

@sashh but the NHS/dept of health advice has been suggestive for us to take a supplement over winter as we don't get enough sunlight or enough from food (not just because of this outbreak) I bought one spray bottle. I'm not taking it now as I've been able to sit in the sun.

I'm sorry you can't get your prescription. I presume it's a different dosage the available online or in pharmacy as there are lots available still online.

I absolutely noticed the difference over winter this year with taking it.

Yes namechanger. I read this recently but noted it takes months to get the level up. I am taking them for the next peak. I need to check maxi mum dose with pharmatist. Orange helps with absorbtion. Sun is so much better of course

G

"sun's angle is only at a point where we absorb vit d beween near end of april to near end of August! "

That's weird. DD got sunburn end of March this year (latitude 52.8 degrees). Everyone in my house who tans easily is very brown or very freckly right now. We're outside 1-3 hrs/day. Today is cloudy. Not a day to turn into walnuts.

@sashh how is me buying vitamin D hurting you?