There is still so much we don’t know about the coronavirus, but in the face of the unknown, scientists are working hard to reduce the risk that the disease will be fatal. One ongoing theory is that the severity of coronavirus symptoms can be linked to vitamin D levels. It’s important to remember that correlation doesn’t necessarily imply causation, but let’s explore what we know so far.
To make things confusing, the UK government has been going back and forth on their guidance. Those looking for coronavirus tips to stay healthy might be confused by the conflicting information. In September, Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that trials had revealed vitamin D does not help those with Coronavirus. We later learned no trials had taken place to support this so couldn’t be taken as fact.
What Do We Know About Vitamin D and Coronavirus?
Those looking for tips to stay healthy this winter, and to lower their risk of coronavirus infection might be interested in vitamin D supplements. Studies have shown that those with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to test positive to COVID-19. Another study found that patients with a vitamin D deficiency were more likely to suffer severe symptoms of COVID-19, including acute respiratory failure.
However, what we don’t know is if other factors are at play. For example, those with a vitamin D deficiency may also have a poor diet, and this could be the reason they are more likely to catch coronavirus.
While the NHS has been careful to point out that there is no specific scientific evidence to suggest that vitamin D protects against coronavirus yet, they have now initiated a scheme to get vitamin D supplements to high risk, and clinically vulnerable individuals. They’re doing this as they know vitamin D supports immune function. There are also plenty of other benefits to ensuring you do not have a vitamin D deficiency.
What is Vitamin D and How Can it Help Keep Me Healthy?
Vitamin D is essential for regulating calcium and phosphate levels in the body. Vitamin D helps to keep our bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Some foods are naturally rich in vitamin D, but we get most of our vitamin D from sunlight.
During the summer months, being outside for just 10-30 minutes in the midday sun is enough to create all the vitamin D your body needs. During the winter months, your body will not be able to create enough vitamin D as the sun in the UK isn’t strong enough. From September to March, you should take a vitamin D supplement every day to help keep your body healthy.
You can also get some vitamin D from your diet. Good sources of vitamin D include:
- oily fish, including salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel
- red meat
- liver
- egg yolks
- fortified foods, including some fat spreads and breakfast cereals
Another way to make sure you get enough vitamin D per day is to take a daily supplement. You don’t need a prescription and you can easily buy vitamin D online.
Vitamin D, Coronavirus and Lockdown:
The lockdown restrictions forced many people to stay indoors this summer. Vulnerable people who are shielding may have avoided going outdoors to exercise. During the strictest lockdown measures, people were advised to only go outside once per day to exercise. These factors combined mean that there is the risk that people have become vitamin D deficient over the summer when we normally get a boost.
Now we’re coming out of another lockdown and are a little bit into winter, it’s likely many people have vitamin D deficiency and could benefit from a daily vitamin D supplement.
What is the Vitamin D Dosage for Healthy Immune System Function?
You may have heard of something known as T cells which are present in the body and help to fight infection. Vitamin D helps to “trigger and arm” the T cells to help fight infection. If you are concerned about vitamin D deficiency, you should consider taking the following dosage of vitamin D supplements, which you can easily buy online. According to the NHS, the daily vitamin D dosage is as follows:
- Babies up to 1 year need 8.5-10 micrograms of vitamin D per day
- Children from 1 year and adults need 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day
Where to Buy Vitamin D Online
We know vitamin D helps to contribute towards healthy immune system function, so if you would like to give yourself a boost over the winter, especially if you’ve been indoors this year more than ever, it might make sense to take a vitamin D supplement. You can buy vitamin D online and do not need a prescription to order it. If you’re unsure if a vitamin D supplement is right for you, get in touch with our friendly team to find out more.
There are many different ways to take a vitamin D supplement, including chewable tablets and daily vitamin d supplements.
As always, please either contact our team for more information or speak to your doctor to ensure vitamin D won’t interact with any other medications you are taking.