Body Talk
Mel Watson
Vitamin D could be key in the fight against Covid. Nearly 99% of patients tested who died as a result of the disease were Vitamin D deficient, yet just 4.1% of patients who had good Vitamin D levels died. This could also be a clue as why the virus could die out in warmer weather as we are all outside more often.
Several studies have now backed this research.European countries with lower vitamin D levels have been found to have higher death rates from the virus.
NICE is conducting a review and the results will be available soon.
Poor diets,indoor lifestyles and lack of exercise are key contributors to low levels of this vitamin and this is globally,not just in the UK. Older people are more susceptible as their bodies are less able to produce good supplies of Vitamin D.
Deficiencies of it have also been linked to other respiratory diseases in the past.
In the UK it is a major concern as the light we get in the winter isn’t strong enough for our bodies to produce adequate supplies so we should all be taking supplements to increase our levels,particularly in the winter. It is recommended that Vitamin D is seen part of a healthy lifestyle but not as a cure-all.
