Thought of the Day - November 4 2021 - Your Annual Vitamin D Reminder

The potential benefit of Vitamin D in reducing the likelihood and effects of COVID-19 was one of the first Tips of the Day ( Tip of the Day - Vitamin D May Be of Benefit ) on the Neighbourhood Blog.

Since that time there have been numerous studies supporting this thinking, or at least the corollary, a lack of Vitamin D does increase the likelihood and effects of COVID-19. It seems that while Vitamin D has little effect on the production of antibodies it can attenuate immune responses, which could prevent the “cytokine storms” seen in some patients with COVID-19.

Also keep in mind the lack of Vitamin D, especially if you are in poor health, increases mortality in general (for example in the case of cardiovascular issues by 12%) according to an eleven-year study on the half-million people in the UK Biobank. Moreover, I have still to find any study that says that supplementing your Vitamin D levels has negative side effects.

In Canada, year-round about one-third of Canadians have vitamin D levels below the recommended 50nmol/L (this rises to 40% in the winter) and 10% of Canadians would be considered chronically deficient. These figures are more than halved in those that say they take vitamin D supplements.

Just a friendly reminder, with shorter days and the winter weather closing in, along with COVID-19 still lurking in the wings, make sure to get those tablets out of the cupboard, as well as to get out and about when the sun shines.

Cheers

Cliff