Until then, nutritional supplementation may be useful. The effectiveness of vitamin D is now being recognised by both national and devolved governments in the UK. Some scientific advisers are now suggesting that a national provision of vitamin D could be used to help reduce infections or hospitalisations until the vaccine is ready for widespread administration. However, will vitamin D be used to help ease the burden of viral infections while vaccines are rolled out across the country?
A national deficiency
While the NHS recommends that vitamin D supplements should be used between October and early March due to limited sunlight hours, in 2020 the public health body suggested that the vitamins should be used year-round as a consequence of lockdowns and limited outdoor time.
NHS notes there is not yet enough evidence that vitamin D can prevent coronavirus, even as studies find lower levels of vitamin D in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. But, with little to no side effects involved in taking the supplement, could its use be a tentative win for public health?
Queen Mary University of London launched a study in late 2020 assessing the effectiveness of supplemental vitamin D in reducing the risk or severity of the coronavirus. Researchers are testing whether implementation of a test-and-treat approach which will correct insufficient levels of vitamin D will result in reduced risk or severity of COVID-19 and other acute respiratory infections.
The trial is supported by pharmaceutical company, Pharma Nord, and NHS trust charity, Barts Charity. Their support highlights the potential effectiveness of vitamin D against respiratory illnesses, particularly among older generations. There are suggestions that vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory effects are the reason it enhances the body’s immune response to respiratory illnesses.
Government support
News of vitamin D’s potential effectiveness against the coronavirus has reached UK Parliament. Before implementing the second national lockdown in England, on 2 November, the Prime Minister was questioned on the specific benefits of the supplement. MP David Davis suggested: “[Vitamin D] could reduce infection rates by half and case death rates by half again. … The Scottish Government are sending four months’ supply of vitamin D to everybody who shielded in Scotland. Given that it is low cost and there is no medical downside, will our Government consider the same approach in England?”
Boris Johnson responded that the results were promising: “We are indeed looking at the possible beneficial effects of vitamin D, and I know that we will be updating the House shortly.”
Following this, it was announced that vitamin D supplements would be delivered to more than two million clinically vulnerable people, in a programme lasting throughout the winter. Speculation continues whether this roll-out could be extended to more individuals or for a longer period as the government supports more trials into the effectiveness of vitamin supplementation. Health Secretary Matthew Hancock reiterated optimism on the idea in October: “I have asked the scientists to look once again at the impact of vitamin D on resistance and immunity.”
Using vitamin D to support the vaccine administering is being made as a clear and achievable objective for governments across the UK. As the vaccination roll-out continues in the UK and, indeed, around the world, vitamin D may be of use to help keep the population healthy.
Andrew Richardson is a copywriter working with Pharma Nord, an international pharmaceutical company that supplies hospitals, health food shops, and pharmacies across the UK.
