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| Science & Technology |
| Matt Ridley on vitamin D and Covid |
| 2020-05-20 |
| SPIN, STRANGENESS, AND CHARM via Instapundit [The Spectator] - he argument that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to more severe cases of Covid is gaining ground. It is now reaching the point where it is surprising that we are not hearing from leading medical officials and politicians that people should consider taking supplements to ensure they have sufficient vitamin D. This is not the same as arguing that vitamin D is a magic bullet that will cure the disease. Vitamins are not medication, the taking of which will have positive effects on everybody. They are top-ups: things that hurt you when you don’t have enough of them in your system but do no extra good when you have enough. Indeed, with many vitamins, including D, taking too much can be toxic. However, it is true that many people are deficient in vitamin D, especially at the end of winter. That is because, uniquely, vitamin D is a substance manufactured by ultraviolet light falling on your skin. You can get some from fish and other foods, but not usually enough. So most people’s vitamin D levels fall to a low point in February or March when the sun has been weak and its UV output especially so. Public health bodies have long advised people to supplement vitamin D in winter anyway. ...Vitamin D deficiency has long been known to coincide with a greater frequency or severity of upper-respiratory tract infections, or colds. That this is a causal effect is supported by some studies showing that vitamin D supplements do reduce the risk of such infections. These studies are not without their statistical flaws, so cannot yet be regarded as certain, but they are not quackery like a lot of the stuff coming out of the supplements industry: they come from reputable medical scientists. ...A new article by a long list of medical experts in the BMJ cautiously agrees, confirming that many people in northern latitudes have poor vitamin D status, especially in winter or if confined indoors, and that low vitamin D status 'may be exacerbated during this COVID-19 crisis by indoor living and reduced sun exposure'. It adds that very high intakes or 'mega supplements' will not help and may cause harm, and it is this that probably explains the reluctance of the authorities to spread the message. Another factor may be the lack of lobbying. Vitamin supplements are cheap and unpatented, so there is no great incentive for big companies to push them. All the more reason for government to do so. |
| Posted by:g(r)omgoru |
| #6 And one doctor I know recommends 2000 IU per day and preferably with the largest meal of the day. Personally, I take 1000 IU per day and try to be out in the sun a bit. Blood test from last year was stellar in the D3 department. |
| Posted by: Clem 2020-05-20 17:30 |
| #5 Water intoxication, also known as water poisoning, hyperhydration, overhydration, or water toxemia, is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain functions that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside safe limits by excessive water intake. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2020-05-20 17:27 |
| #4 My daily multi-vitamin has 1000 IU 125% of RDA so I figure I'm good to go on that score. Should get more sun but it's black fly season here in NH so outside is not a comfortable option. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2020-05-20 13:08 |
| #3 it is surprising that we are not hearing from leading medical officials and politicians Well... Expired patent No inclusive trade name Too many manufacturers Too many distributors ...to single source. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2020-05-20 12:54 |
| #2 Poison is always in the dose. Regarding vitamin D in general, there are lots of studies showing a correlation between normal vitamin D levels and a number of health markers but *no* study showing those same health markers after supplementing vitamin D. Current thinking is that the healthy outcomes are associated with healthy levels of sun exposure which also happens to raise vitamin D. In other words, vitamin D does not improve health, being outside does, and also happens to raise vitamin D. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2020-05-20 11:24 |
| #1 ~ 600 IU a day is therapeutic ~ 60,000 IU a day is toxic toxicity result in vomiting and excess urination and then dehydration probably some long term effects but not known |
| Posted by: lord garth 2020-05-20 09:03 |