Vitamin D and the Coronavirus

Vitamin D and the Coronavirus

You may have heard of the link between vitamin D and the Coronavirus – but how much do we really know at the early stage of the virus?

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a vitamin and a hormone, which can be made in the body.Vitamin D regulates the amount of other important minerals in our body such as calcium and phosphate, both needed for healthy bones, teeth and muscles.

What are the Sources of Vitamin D?

There are two major forms of vitamin D which are vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). The main sources of vitamin D are sunlight exposure (which means it is synthesised in the skin) and foods or dietary supplements. Vitamin D is found in a variety of foods including;

– Oily fish, red meat and eggs

Vitamin D and the Coronavirus

A recent study concluded that attention to nutrition and protein intake is important for vulnerable individuals in times of Coronavirus.

Public health England guidelines state that the following groups are at risk of vitamin D deficiency and should take a supplement of vitamin D all year around:

• People living in care homes
• People who may cover their skin when they are outside
• People whose skin has little or no exposure to the sun

Study About Vitamin D and the Coronavirus

A recent Irish study led by Professor Rose Anne Kenny published in the Irish Medical Journal called for immediate higher vitamin D supplementation for those in hospital, care homes and for other vulnerable individuals.

Prof Kenny said: “Though we do not know specifically of the role of vitamin D in Covid-19 infections, given its wider implications for improving immune responses and clear evidence for bone and muscle health, those cocooning and other at-risk cohorts should ensure they have an adequate intake of vitamin D.”

Another recent study suggested that people with a vitamin D deficiency may be more prone to infection (specifically respiratory infections) from the Coronavirus and that vitamin D could work as a therapeutic option for treatment of the virus.

However, this is a very early recommendation and based on bovine studies, therefore cannot be translated to humans yet.

Should I Start Taking Vitamin D?

If you are shielding and not getting sunlight, the government recommendation is that you should take an over the counter vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms every day. If you have had very low vitamin D in the past, you may need a higher dose – speak to your pharmacist or doctor for advice on this.

As for the higher doses of vitamin D specifically to prevent or treat Coronavirus, the evidence so far is very limited and higher dose recommendations cannot be made yet. If you are unsure or want to take a higher dose, then you should discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist.

How Does Online Prescription Ordering Work? 

To get your prescription delivered completely free, all you have to do is sign-up to the service here – it takes less than 1 minute! Once you have been approved as an RXLive patient, you can use the online ordering platform to order your prescription with just a few clicks.  Then, you can sit back and relax, our dedicated pharmacy team will prepare your order and have your medication sent out within 48 hours. RXLive also have dedicated pharmacists ready to chat at all times.

Please note, RXLive is growing exceptionally fast as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  We are dispensing and dispatching medicine, but our team is very busy so please bear with us. It may take up to 48 hours longer for your medicine to arrive. Please only contact us if your query is urgent during this time. Due to some stock shortages, we are shipping orders even if an item is missing, you will get an owing note and receive any items out of stock once it arrives.