I urge you all to take Vit D. Its cheap and pretty much harmless.
There seems to be evidence ( but not proven) that Vit D has a protective effect against catching covid and making its effects less if you do catch it.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jan/10/does-vitamin-d-combat-covid
Its well proven that most of us are Vit D deficient especially in Scotland. Personally i was tested a couple of years ago and was found to have very low levels much to my surprise. since taking it I feel much better. I have been exposed to covid at work and many of my colleagues have had it - but I remain free of it. ( anecdote not evidence 😉 )
So please all of you - get your Vit d and start taking it. I would do a fortnight at 2 or 3 times RDA then drop to RDA
Been taking cod liver oil with vitamin D for years.
Another one here doing the same.
1000iu per day form me - I was almost brought in for intravenous boosts after my levels were tested. Since taking supplement in winter months I'm generally, I think, healthier, happier and free of aches and pains.
Been taking it since last summer, when it became clear that due to pressures of work I wasn't going outside in daylight hours during the week.
Its well proven that most of us are Vit D deficient especially in Scotland.
Its an especially big issue for people from BAME background - in the US 50% of the population is vit-d deficient but it rises to 80% amongst black Americans - it may go some way to explain (here and in the US) why severe cases seem to be particularly prevalent amongst the BAME population.
I was spending loads of time outside - but when I thought about it cycling in longs and gloves so very little skin exposed. Being active actually means you need more VitD
Yep, 2000iu ish a day.
not expensive and if it has a small effect it is worth it.
which reminds me, I need to order some more
I started taking it through last winter, doing the same this year probably through to end of March.
D3 + K2 here (look up the link - K2 is needed for absorption). I used to buy the most expensive capsule ones on amazon but now I just get the tablet ones having found out it's the exact same thing
I also take B12 and krill oil
I'd like to get to a financial position where I can regularly get bloods done to actually see what is going on with my body
3000IU spray for last few months, despite listening to Dr John Campbell mention the early small scale trials back around April 2020 in his frequent Youtube vids!
Didn't PHE or some other "big" UK pharma group tell us VitD didn't help, just before Xmas? Quick google-fu...
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vitamin-d-supplementation-during-winter-phe-and-nice-statement/statement-from-phe-and-nice-on-vitamin-d-supplementation-during-winter
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/insufficient-evidence-for-vitamin-d-preventing-or-treating-artis
Even if it didn't specifically help with Covid, so many of us Brits don't take enough, especially during the weak sun months from September to March.
Mr Flannol, care to link?
Mr Flannol, care to link?
D3 + K2:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07YDCVX3G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Krill oil:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00C9HAI4K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thousands of results for D3/K2 link, here're two (I profess no scientific knowledge at all, but more than happy to follow science, there's no financial difference in getting the extra vitamin K)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5613455/
https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)30624-X/fulltext
nobby - no proof rather than it doesn't IIRC
Good thread TJ, yep there's lots of emerging evidence that being Vit D deficient increases the severity of any COVID-19 infection. Although, it's not a panacea, so continue to wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance.
Been taking (and getting the family to take) 2000iu a day since March.
No idea if it works, but haven't had CV19 (I don't think). Corralation is not causation etc etc. Also take some MCT C8 oil every morning.
Yep, daily for about 18 months. I started because I read somewhere, rightly or wrongly that a deficiency might have something to do with SAD/winter blues, which I suffer from a bit. Reading that it might protect against Covid was a bonus.
Yes, and zinc.
I know two people who had serious health problems for years that turned out to be vitamin d deficiency. One was falsely diagnosed with ms. The other fobbed off with anti-depressants.
Vitamin d is a big deal.
Any evidence for the high doses people are suggesting? NHS recommends 400iu a day Oct to March.
Been taking it during September to April for the last couple of years. I think i get enough sunshine outside those months.
It's the only supplement recommended by the NHS for everyone.
Another anecdote: my wife doesn't take vitD, she got covid and I didn't (or was asymptomatic).
This is interesting (re: dosages)
Just one little disclaimer/exception.
Talk to your doctor first if you've had cancer.
I attempted to sign up for the NHS vitamin d program for covid critically vulnerable. Found out cancer and vit d supplements combined can mess up your calcium levels. Advice was check with GP.
Multivitamin with zinc plus an extra Vit D capsule. Definitely feel better since starting.
Any evidence for the high doses people are suggesting? NHS recommends 400iu a day Oct to March.
Really? I take 800
High doses are recommended by some fringe medical folk. there is also a danger if unlikely to high does but they need to be thousands of units a day for years
Otherwise its very safe
Been taking 1000IU since autumn. Did get COVID but mild. However it hasn’t prevented the post COVID hangover. Been at the hospital today for a potential DVT (it’s not, it just looks like more post COVID fun) and they are currently running tests for vitamin D levels to check whether it’s still too low despite the supplements, given how I feel.
If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people.
Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
I've been taking it for the last 4 winters.
Started taking it last winter when working in Tromso.
Recommended by the locals.
Been taking 4000iu to 6000iu a day of vit D3 for years, a few years ago I got my mum, brother and friends onto taking 2000iu a day.
Its criminal that it is not pushed out for everyone to take.
Low Vitamin D is associated (on a population level) aging, inactive lifestyle, frailty, poverty, poor nutrition etc.
As a result, it’s often linked to poor health outcomes (inc with Covid infection). It’s the classic example of causation vs correlation though.
FWIW I do take Vit D supplements because they’re cheap but I certainly don’t really think it’s gonna save me from covid (that’ll be my youth, active lifestyle, good diet etc).
superficial
active people need more and how much sunshine actually hits your unprotected skin? I am none of those things bar my age and I had very low levels - GP was considering injectable vit d.
I agree its far from proven but the evidence is there and its cheap and harmless so why not?
I certainly don’t really think it’s gonna save me from covid
It can save you from a lot of things not just covid. It's crucial for your immune system.
Low Vit D levels mean a weakened immune system
I don't think that is up for debate.
You know I’m not convinced that there is as much need for supplements, in general, as people think. One of the many test I had when diagnosing my MS was Vit D and I was in no way deficient. For reference I live in NE Scotland.
That being said I do now take Vit D daily as recommended for MS but were I not diagnosed I doubt that would be taking any.
Talk to your doctor first if you’ve had cancer.
Interesting. When I was diagnosed the very first thing the consultant said was start taking vitamin D. The second thing was stop drinking spirits*
*I haven't got a drink problem, I was probably getting thru a bottle a year.
No I'm not.
I don't tend to take health advice off random people on the internet.😜
yeah been having a daily dose, if the body doesn't need it it will come out in my piss.
I don’t tend to take health advice off random people on the internet.😜
Then perhaps spend 5 mins on google finding out for yourself why the vast majority of the population in the northern hemisphere are vit d deficient at this time of year and of the health benefits of taking a supplement.
To be fair it is the only supplement the NHS recommend everyone take (Folic acid/pregnancy aside)
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/do-i-need-vitamin-supplements/
Yes. I had low levels (about 8-10 ng/ml IIRC) measured as part of the multiple investigations that led to a CFS diagnosis. Been on 1000IU as recommended by the GP ever since.
Whilst understand the vit D thing, I question the ethics of taking krill oil.
I take to attempt to reduce the quantity of migraines I get. I cant confirm it does anymore than its helped my resistance to covid 19, but its a very small investment so I have nothing to lose.
As far as I know the only reason I have white skin is to make it easier to manufacture vitamin d. Evolution worked out that the benefit from this was worth the trade off in skin cancer.
Vit d is obvs important. It"s known to help the immune system. It's difficult to have too much and it costs pennies. Even if it does nothing for covid I'd like my immune system working as well as it can right now so I'm in.
D3 and K2 here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vitamin-D3-4000iu-Vitamin-K2-100mcg-Cholecalciferol-Menaquinone-Vitamins/232223936926
I've been taking it daily along with B12 for 7 years after a health scare.
Whilst understand the vit D thing, I question the ethics of taking krill oil.
Very interesting - was honestly totally oblivious. Will look into suitable alternatives
Will look into suitable alternatives
flax or hemp seed oil will give you Omega 3
