Vitamin D3 and it's effect on Covid

[Big Janner]

Forumites
As the OP of the original 'Covid' thread, I fully understood why it was locked.
With this thread I am not trying to replace the original and I am absolutely sure that, if this one goes the same way as the last, it too, will be closed, and fast.

In saw this on another forum and it got me thinking.
I take Vit D3 suppliment during the Autumn and Winter; 4000iu's a day;


Dr David Grimes is a retired consultant from Blackburn hospitals who in 30 year career treated thousands of cases of severe D3 deficiency. He is outspoken in his condemnation of the lack of action to embrace D3 for covid-19. His latest blog analyses data from Israel that clearly show serum 25(OH))D levels below 50 nmol/L risk severe C-19 and death. Covid-19 and Vitamin D: strong evidence of benefit from Israel Half the UK population are below 50 in winter.

Sad to see D3 continuing to be ignored. But ignorance or ignoring is surely by now close to being a dereliction of duty by SAGE and numerous professors of PH, epidemiology and virologists.

At the grassroots level the D3 mssg appears to be getting out. City Assays who provide a £30 postal service for measuring 25(OH)D at home warn of a two-week delay in delivering results.


Yes
I've had Covid, in July, mid summer, when natural D3 availability is high
My illness was not serious


Thoughts?

 

[DSM10000]

Forumites
As the OP of the original 'Covid' thread, I fully understood why it was locked.
With this thread I am not trying to replace the original and I am absolutely sure that, if this one goes the same way as the last, it too, will be closed, and fast.

In saw this on another forum and it got me thinking.
I take Vit D3 suppliment during the Autumn and Winter; 4000iu's a day;


Dr David Grimes is a retired consultant from Blackburn hospitals who in 30 year career treated thousands of cases of severe D3 deficiency. He is outspoken in his condemnation of the lack of action to embrace D3 for covid-19. His latest blog analyses data from Israel that clearly show serum 25(OH))D levels below 50 nmol/L risk severe C-19 and death. Covid-19 and Vitamin D: strong evidence of benefit from Israel Half the UK population are below 50 in winter.

Sad to see D3 continuing to be ignored. But ignorance or ignoring is surely by now close to being a dereliction of duty by SAGE and numerous professors of PH, epidemiology and virologists.

At the grassroots level the D3 mssg appears to be getting out. City Assays who provide a £30 postal service for measuring 25(OH)D at home warn of a two-week delay in delivering results.


Yes
I've had Covid, in July, mid summer, when natural D3 availability is high
My illness was not serious


Thoughts?

For the majority of people who eat a well balanced diet vitamin deficiency of any kind should not be a factor.

There are a number of medical conditions where vitamins are not absorbed and processed correctly leading to deficiency but these should hopefully be picked up symptomatically and treated

There are of course risk groups for cases of deficiency and it would be interesting to see how these groups fair with an appropriate vitamin supplement.

 

[Dippo]

I'm in the high vulnerability group; the government sent me a supply of vitamin D tablets last year.

I asked my GP if I should continue taking a vitamin D supplement this year, and was told definitely yes.

The OP says natural vitamin D levels are high in July. This is because natural sunlight creates vitamin D from cholesterol. Of course, if you're shielding, you don't go out much, and have little exposure to sunlight.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

For the majority of people who eat a well balanced diet vitamin deficiency of any kind should not be a factor.

There are a number of medical conditions where vitamins are not absorbed and processed correctly leading to deficiency but these should hopefully be picked up symptomatically and treated

There are of course risk groups for cases of deficiency and it would be interesting to see how these groups fair with an appropriate vitamin supplement.

Nope you are mistaken about D3.

1) D3 is actually a hormone and not a vitamin
2) D3 is largely produced through exposure to sunlight
3) Diet has little to do with D3 deficiency
3) A surprisingly large number people are D3 deficient (especially people with darker skins living in cooler climates like we have in the UK) as we do not spend enough time outdoors and tend to use sunblock, hats etc when we are. Illnesses related to lack of D3 are more common among people in the UK with darker skins.

In Australia where people are very conscious of skin cancer issues and the “slip slap slop” campaign many people cover up well in the sun and there is a surprisingly large number of D3 deficiency.

About 12 years ago (living in Australia) I was browsing the Kindle library and came across a book (mostly case studies) written by a medical expert on D3 . I had my levels checked and my D3 was low. I followed the book’s recommendations (basically you have to start with a high dose to get your levels up and them go onto a maintenance dose) and have been taking D3 (in what used to be considered large doses) since then. My wife is a registered nurse and poo-pooed it all until she went to the rheumatoid arthritis specialist, who immediately checked her D3 and put her on to D3 supplements (she takes 4000iu in winter).

D3 affects all sorts of systems in your body (not only bones) and it is important to have the right levels.

NHS is slowly getting upto speed......:

From the NHS website

"Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body.

These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.

Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter."

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Forumites
As the OP of the original 'Covid' thread, I fully understood why it was locked.
With this thread I am not trying to replace the original and I am absolutely sure that, if this one goes the same way as the last, it too, will be closed, and fast.

In saw this on another forum and it got me thinking.
I take Vit D3 suppliment during the Autumn and Winter; 4000iu's a day;


Dr David Grimes is a retired consultant from Blackburn hospitals who in 30 year career treated thousands of cases of severe D3 deficiency. He is outspoken in his condemnation of the lack of action to embrace D3 for covid-19. His latest blog analyses data from Israel that clearly show serum 25(OH))D levels below 50 nmol/L risk severe C-19 and death. Covid-19 and Vitamin D: strong evidence of benefit from Israel Half the UK population are below 50 in winter.

Sad to see D3 continuing to be ignored. But ignorance or ignoring is surely by now close to being a dereliction of duty by SAGE and numerous professors of PH, epidemiology and virologists.

At the grassroots level the D3 mssg appears to be getting out. City Assays who provide a £30 postal service for measuring 25(OH)D at home warn of a two-week delay in delivering results.


Yes
I've had Covid, in July, mid summer, when natural D3 availability is high
My illness was not serious


Thoughts?

I’ve been a proponent of taking D3 since about 2009. I cannot say if it has benefited me, but I don’t feel worse.

I do a lot of reading & research and almost everything I have read about D3 is positive. When I first asked for a D3 level blood test here (2015) the doctor was very reluctant and said it was pointless - now that are saying we should supplement.

 

[Steveml63]

Hi,
My wife & I both take a single capsule weekly - 50,000 units (have done for past few years)
Even though we live in a sunny country - it’s mostly too hot to sunbathe to get our vitamin D fix that way!
My wife often tests her patients vitamin D levels as part of the suite of tests that she orders for patients that she treats in ER - many have very low vitamin D levels.
Cheers
Steve

 

[markjay]

I think that it's very difficult to know for certain without a proper peer-reviewed randomised trial or a large study with proper statistical analysis etc.

There could be many reasons why the spike in COVID hospitalisation occurs during the winter months. It's not at all obvious that it has anything to do with exposure to sunlight, or if it does, to what extent is it a factor.

I am not suggesting that D3 isn't a significant factor in reducing serious illness and death resulting from COVID, just that without proper studies we simply don't know.

EDIT: Of course it's a good idea to take it... I am just trying to be precise about the anticipated benefits.

 

[Swotty]

I asked the doc for a D3 supplement when covid hit. He asked why and initially refused. After an argument he relented and prescribed an 80,000 iu supplement to be replenished every 12 weeks. It works as a hormone treatment, with front-loading and then gradual reduction, so not quite the 800 iu per day it seems.

I have read that 4,000 iu per day is the standard for winter UK. We get higher u/v levels here even in winter and so far no problems on the 80K every 10-12 weeks.

Edit - in response to the thread title I attach a document which I have found very useful:

 

[DSM10000]

Nope you are mistaken about D3.

1) D3 is actually a hormone and not a vitamin
2) D3 is largely produced through exposure to sunlight
3) Diet has little to do with D3 deficiency
3) A surprisingly large number people are D3 deficient (especially people with darker skins living in cooler climates like we have in the UK) as we do not spend enough time outdoors and tend to use sunblock, hats etc when we are. Illnesses related to lack of D3 are more common among people in the UK with darker skins.

In Australia where people are very conscious of skin cancer issues and the “slip slap slop” campaign many people cover up well in the sun and there is a surprisingly large number of D3 deficiency.

About 12 years ago (living in Australia) I was browsing the Kindle library and came across a book (mostly case studies) written by a medical expert on D3 . I had my levels checked and my D3 was low. I followed the book’s recommendations (basically you have to start with a high dose to get your levels up and them go onto a maintenance dose) and have been taking D3 (in what used to be considered large doses) since then. My wife is a registered nurse and poo-pooed it all until she went to the rheumatoid arthritis specialist, who immediately checked her D3 and put her on to D3 supplements (she takes 4000iu in winter).

D3 affects all sorts of systems in your body (not only bones) and it is important to have the right levels.

NHS is slowly getting upto speed......:

From the NHS website

"Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body.

These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.

Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter."

I was referring to vitamins in an overall viewpoint and not D specifically.

Around 10% of our D is sourced from our food and is absorbed via the gut.

I wasn't disputing the primary source of D.

I have never taken vitamin supplements of any kind yet have a healthy and correct correct balance whenever it has been checked.

My point was that some people rely on taking supplements without proper follow up and some also seem to be of the opinion that taking supplements negates the need for a healthier diet overall.

 

[grober]

If there was a lateral flow test for a "COVID thread" this would come out as positive.

 

[Benzowner]

I take 10 micrograms of D3 every day ever since I was told by my doctor, after an mot, that I has a deficiency. She told me take one a day or 7 one day a week it will make no difference as vitamin D is stored in fat. So if you eat a lot of lean meat and no fat you may be low in the vitamin. Since taking these over 15 years or so now, I have not had as many colds as I used to get although I have not written down when I had colds previously, just that people around me have colds which I don't seem to catch, might just be luck

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

There's plenty of NHS documentation on this: process charts, flows, high risk categories.

As a redhead it's always been a risk factor for me. So I just take a cheap daily supplement and then make sure I get my daily dollop of sunshine.

Vitamin D3 isn't a prescription thing, again well documented by the NHS. It seems they don't write prescriptions for protein, water and walking either.

So recommended for general health, but most of us will just get enough by walking outside. Well, those who can still be bothered to walk.

 

[Deleted member 159894]

There's plenty of NHS documentation on this: process charts, flows, high risk categories.

As a redhead it's always been a risk factor for me. So I just take a cheap daily supplement and then make sure I get my daily dollop of sunshine.

Vitamin D3 isn't a prescription thing, again well documented by the NHS. It seems they don't write prescriptions for protein, water and walking either.

So recommended for general health, but most of us will just get enough by walking outside. Well, if people can be bothered to walk.

Ginge

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Ginge

Proper Ginge. Have to put on SBF50 to check my phone or open the fridge.

 

[MrGreedy]

For the majority of people who eat a well balanced diet vitamin deficiency of any kind should not be a factor.

I'm sure I read somewhere that it's pretty much impossible to get enough Vit D3 from food and sunlight unless you're chugging down D3 rich foods and running round outside naked in summer all day?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

….. unless you're chugging down D3 rich foods and running round outside naked in summer all day?

Aye, but it’s still a good excuse if the police turn up.

 

[poormansporsche]

It's not very scientific but at my Eldest Daughters Teenage Angst Clinic the first thing they do is get you doped up on "D" and she is the only one of us who hasn't had Covid (or at least any symptoms) despite half her class getting it. Or it could just be all the pentagrams and effigy burning

 

[Swotty]

There's plenty of NHS documentation on this: process charts, flows, high risk categories.

As a redhead it's always been a risk factor for me. So I just take a cheap daily supplement and then make sure I get my daily dollop of sunshine.

Vitamin D3 isn't a prescription thing, again well documented by the NHS. It seems they don't write prescriptions for protein, water and walking either.

So recommended for general health, but most of us will just get enough by walking outside. Well, those who can still be bothered to walk.

My son lives on the south coast and is mixed race (mum was West Indian). His D3 levels drop significantly on the winter as his skin cannot absorb the level of u/v it needs in the northern, UK climate.

He eats a healthy and balanced diet (so he tells me!) but still requires a D3 supplement to maintain healthy levels for his "demographic".

Multiply that by the 16 million or so non-white/Caribbean/asian/etc UK demographic and you have some real, potential health issues.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

1) I was referring to vitamins in an overall viewpoint and not D specifically.

2) Around 10% of our D is sourced from our food and is absorbed via the gut.

3) I wasn't disputing the primary source of D.

4) I have never taken vitamin supplements of any kind yet have a healthy and correct correct balance whenever it has been checked.

5)My point was that some people rely on taking supplements without proper follow up and some also seem to be of the opinion that taking supplements negates the need for a healthier diet overall.

1) Subject of the thread was D3!
2) Yes agree but 10% sourced from food is insignificant.
3) "For the majority of people who eat a well balanced diet vitamin deficiency of any kind should not be a factor. “ & "I wasn't disputing the primary source of D.” ....confusing
4) Have you ever specifically had any vitamin level checked ? Have your D3 levels been checked? You could be surprised.
5) Agree (generally) that vitamin supplements are a waste of time. I worked with a guy that never ate any fruit or veg (except potatoes (the other sugar)) & pretty much lived on deep fried stuff & fizzy drinks. He believed that supplements were the way. He was overweight, pasty skinned and really unhealthy.

Wife and I take two vitamin supplements - D3 and K2 (most people do not know about K2) both of which are difficult to get the right levels through diet alone.

 

[Swotty]

1) Subject of the thread was D3!
2) Yes agree but 10% sourced from food is insignificant.
3) "For the majority of people who eat a well balanced diet vitamin deficiency of any kind should not be a factor. “ & "I wasn't disputing the primary source of D.” ....confusing
4) Have you ever specifically had any vitamin level checked ? Have your D3 levels been checked? You could be surprised.
5) Agree (generally) that vitamin supplements are a waste of time. I worked with a guy that never ate any fruit or veg (except potatoes (the other sugar)) & pretty much lived on deep fried stuff & fizzy drinks. He believed that supplements were the way. He was overweight, pasty skinned and really unhealthy.

Wife and I take two vitamin supplements - D3 and K2 (most people do not know about K2) both of which are difficult to get the right levels through diet alone.

I agree about K2 (the vitamin, not the mountain!).