Vitamin D is something we have been recommending since March 2020 – I would say most of our customers are taking vitamin D. Very interestingly, there are many references advising us to supplement with “D”. Here are the top 3 I have come across...
The Irish Medical Journal.
This is a direct quote from the IMJ from April 2020...
“Vitamin D deficiency is common and may contribute to increased risk of respiratory infection including Covid-19. We recommend that all older adults, hospital inpatients, nursing home residents and other vulnerable groups (e.g. Those with diabetes mellitus or compromised immune function, those with darker skin, vegetarians and vegans, those who are overweight or obese, smokers and healthcare workers) be urgently supplemented with 20-50µg/d of vitamin D to enhance their resistance to Covid-19, and that this advice be quickly extended to the general adult population.”
RTE News.
In a report from 7-4-21 says that while Vitamin D is in no way a cure for Covid-19, there is increasing international evidence from Finland, France and Spain that high levels of the vitamin in people can help reduce the impact of Covid-19 infections and other illnesses.
Professor of medical gerontology at TCD Rose Anne Kenny was quoted as saying there is "strong circumstantial evidence of a benefit" of taking Vitamin D3 to prevent severe illness from Covid-19. Speaking on Today with Philip Boucher-Hayes, Prof Kenny said public health officials here agree that taking "up to 4,000 internal units per day" is safe. "I am reassured that there is no down side", she said.
See the full article here:
https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0407/1208274-vitamin-d-covid-19/
The Government - This April 2021 the Joint Committee on Health have just released a Report on addressing Vitamin D deficiency as a public health measure in Ireland
Here are the 5 main recommendations...
Recommendation 1
Daily Vitamin D supplements of 20-25µg/day (800–1000 IU/day) should be
recommended to the entire adult population, where possible and where medically
appropriate, as a public health measure to reduce the risk of respiratory and other
illnesses such as osteoporosis. The Committee recommends that where required, any
supplementation at higher doses than this should be taken under medical supervision.
Recommendation 2
A public health policy to increase knowledge and encourage increased intake of Vitamin
D through supplementation should be developed in time for consideration for Budget
2022.
Recommendation 3
To reduce the cost of Vitamin D supplementation and to promote its uptake, the
Government should reconsider the current VAT applied, with a view to either reducing
or preferably eliminating it.
Recommendation 4
Specific measures need to be put in place for vulnerable groups, especially nursing home
residents and those who are in confined settings, such as prisons; and for frontline and
healthcare workers. For these groups, provision of Vitamin D should be administered on
an opt-out basis. Additionally, for the duration of this pandemic, those attending Covid19 test centres should be offered Vitamin D supplements on presentation for their Covid19 test.
If you'd like to read the full report you can see it here:
It's important to remember that taking vitamin D is not a cure all for Covid19 or any other ailment, but increasingly, it is seen as something beneficial to have sufficient levels in your system.
