When are the government going to come out and actually say something about Vitamin D

[Namechanger20183110]

Since the very beginning this has considered to be a factor but there wasn't thought to be enough research.

Now Boston University have carried out a new study where patients over 40 with sufficient Vitamin D levels were 54% less likely to catch covid, and 51% less likely to die once they caught it.
news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-vitamin-d-reduces-infection-and-impact-of-covid-19-studies-find-12081132

I have been taking supplements since March. I am an ethnic minority, and I am really surprised when I speak to family members who are still not taking anything when BAMEs are known to be even more at risk. In fact I think everyone in the population should be taking it, especially now as we move into autumn/winter.

As much as I think personal accountability is required, shouldn't the government actually openly and officially comment on this new research? I feel that allowing doctors to prescribe Vit D tablets to those most vulnerable and eligible for free prescriptions would be better money well spent than other measures

@roarfeckingroarr

I don't think they should have to prescribe them. I mean, they're not prescribing diet pills or subscriptions to WW/SW.

If there was a pill that lowered your weight just like a Vitamin D tablet increases your levels of Vitamin D does, if it was comparable, I bet the NHS would be funded to prescribe it. Of the examples you give, diet pills can be dangerous anyway and WW/SW are a crapshoot (though I know the NHS have funded attendance for some people before).

I was offered NHS-funded slimming world, and it probably costs more than vitamin D3

Those taking Vitamin D without mediical advice are a pain in the butt and doing me no favours! I have a diagnosed VitD deficiency and need to take high doses daily.
It's been a bugger trying to obtain reasonably priced quality VitD eclver since Covid 19 appeared.

@MartiniDry

Those taking Vitamin D without mediical advice are a pain in the butt and doing me no favours! I have a diagnosed VitD deficiency and need to take high doses daily. It's been a bugger trying to obtain reasonably priced quality VitD eclver since Covid 19 appeared.

Can your doctor prescribe some if you can’t get it?

The medical advice is for everyone to take the 10 micrograms though...
And most of us will be deficient too. As most people are. The increase in worldwide demand should have increased production by now

Does anyone know the science behind dark skin meaning lower vitamin d levels?

@EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide I always thought it was because people with darker skin historically lived in places where there was more sun so their genetics adapted to it and were easily able to produce the vitamin D their bodies required. As people migrated to climates with less sunshine (like most Northern European countries) their bodies aren’t getting enough sunlight so don’t produce enough vitamin D.

Unlike redheads who are biologically used to living in low sunlight areas so can produce Vitamin D with very little sunlight.

This is how I’ve always explained it

vitamin d supplementation isn't new at all.
remember cod liver oil?

My understanding is this: human skin colouring is an evolutionary response to the conditions being lived in. For the majority of our history, and I include archaic humans in that too, we all lived close enough to the equator and in hot enough environments that darker skin was an advantage, so that is what we evolved to have. The high melanin meant more protection from the sun, and there was so much of the sun that blocking Vitamin D was never a concern. We were getting enough of it anyway. Probably we wouldn't have been so evolutionarily successful in those days if we hadn't had dark skin that protected us from the fierce sun.

It's only once some humans started moving and living above the 37th parallel north (barely any humans have ever lived below the 37th parallel in the southern hemisphere because there's so little land there) that the Vitamin D issue arose. There would have been absolutely no point in light skin before that, and considerable disadvantage. Not every group living at high latitude is pale, but the ones who aren't, like the Inuit, have a traditional diet incredibly high in Vitamin D. Way more than the average northern European eats.

Some really good theories, thanks!

While those without medical diagnosis are scrambling to obtain Vitamin D can they please spare a thought for those of us who genuinely need high dose Vit D due to proven deficiency. It's worrying to discover that obtaining VitD is like trying to find rocking horse droppings.

We're now entering the period where everyone in the UK is advised to supplement. We all genuinely need it.

I'm in Scotland so I'm taking it now as we will not make any through the sun until next year now

I bought some from Sainsbury’s 1000mg but I started getting very thirsty, is that a thing? I haven’t taken any for a couple of days to see if it got better but I’m still thirsty!

I dont get thirsty with it. I also take 1000ug

The Scottish Government have been advising people to take Vit D since lockdown because people were indoors most of the day, although in Scotland being outdoors hardly makes much difference most of the time.

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

I had blood tests done privately in June which showed my VitD levels to be 28nmol/ml.
Since then, I've been taking 4000iuD with vit K, Immunace, Magnesium, and high strength Vit C and zinc.

It must be working as DS had a stinker of a cold which DH then caught, but I didn't catch it 😂

However, I've noticed my carpal tunnel syndrome has got worse. Could this be linked to high D intake?

I thought everyone was already advised to take vitamin D, especially in the winter

@MartiniDry there's massive amounts of vitamin D for sale on Amazon.
Becoming low in Vitamin D in the UK is hardly unusual, everyone who takes it will need it. I become deficient if I dont supplement.

i am sure i heard that vitamin D was not a cure against the virus.

it is not hard to source imo

@Tomatoesneedtoripen

i am sure i heard that vitamin D was not a cure against the virus.

It’s not a cure but I think there is increasing data showing it might help

I've been taking these since Jan -

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07V28LCYV/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

both me and DH are higher risk

Me - 44, BMI 52, high blood pressure, probably diabetic
Him - 61, BMI 47, high blood pressure, T2 diabetic

We both had covid very mildly.

Whether the Vit D was the reason I don't know but it can't have hurt

@MartiniDry I've had no problems ordering my usual better you vit d spray from Amazon. There doesn't seem to be a supply issue.