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There are numerous studies now showing a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and serious COVID-19 symptoms. I don't understand why public health officials aren't doing more to conduct widespread vitamin D level tests, and give out supplements when needed. Those interventions could save many lives at a low cost today while we work on more effective vaccines and treatments.

https://vitamin-d-covid.shotwell.ca/



I would suspect it's harder to prove that supplements have any effect.

I mean vitamin D prevalence could be an indicator of something else..

On the other hand, it's been used as a supplement for a long time. So hopefully it's not outright dangerous in limited quantities.


If you read through the studies in the link I posted, patients do benefit from supplementation.


I'll keep eating my vitamin D supplements.


Trump got vitamin D infusions in the hospital. It's also something that taking a daily pill for will not have immediate effects. If you take OTC supplements today you won't see your levels increase for days or weeks.


A megadose to bump vitamin D levels has been used for years, perhaps decades, and verified to affect blood levels - a friend’s doctor recommended to them a while ago 60,000IU per month, 20,000/week or 1000/day. I don’t know the exact logic, but it’s not new.

Whether or not such a bump gives the same benefits as slow ramping (and if it delivers then more quickly or not) is something I haven’t found any studies on - but I have found in the past studies indicating sun exposure is better than supplements for the same attained blood vitamin D levels (not surprising, as vitamin D is far from the only result of sun exposure)


Of course, starting now is better than starting later to get the effects.

That said, I can totally imagine people downing a megadose of vitamin D, declaring themselves immune, and going out to lick doorknobs immediately.


Well I've read things that suggest eating covid won't hurt you. May be similar to HIV where the official advice is not to slosh it around your mouth endlessly but either spit or swallow immediately?


They would overdose on D. Too much of that vitamin from pill is bad for you.


This situation has being going on for longer than days or weeks too.


> I don't understand why public health officials

Public health officials don't actually care about public health. Another critical issue they've willfully chosen to ignore is the dramatic comorbidity of COVID-19 and obesity.

We are told to mask up and social distance, but nobody in the public health sphere has suggested eating less.

They are not serious people.


Public health agencies have been encouraging people to lose weight and exercise more for decades. I doubt that COVID-19 is going to motivate people where diabetes and heart disease have failed.


Across the pond they suggested to "eat out to help out". Very reasonable advice given the comorbidities.


Careful!


Precisely.

There would be a better outcome if people were physically active and not depressed/anxious(this reduces with socializing).

Put down the hamburger and go for a run instead of handing over the keys to the nanny-state that’s proven itself incompetent.


I joined orange theory a few weeks ago and have been working out consistently. It has already had such a positive impact on my life. Wish I would have made this decision many years ago.


I feel like it's got essentially no coverage as a response to a virus that overwhelming affects overweight/unhealthy people.

Abstaining from junk or doing exercise has an immediate effect on your metabolic health.


Lucky you! As quickly as I move to a country and get my gym membership settled, the governments shut down the gyms. First Mexico and then France grrr




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