Well in a proper functioning government Dr.s employed by the government would give recommendation for best health practices. Supplementing may not be ideal in the summer months, but possibly in winter north of a certain latitude.

Drs are beginning to reccommned it in record nmumbers in the US. More as a response to colorectal cancers than anything else. While no causal relationshipt has been proven, the correlation is high enough in individuals that preventative prescribing is prudent.

Good song! Yes, Let the Sunshine In...and supplement when appropriate.

I hope you are definately good now. Let's hope we all get through this.

@Flowerwall Depends on your definition of "good". Most likely I'll be on dialysis by the end of the year, but at least I don't have COVID.

@kiramea No, you wouldn't want additional illness. I am sure what you are going through now is taxing enough. Hopefully, the vitamins help.

Yes, I was told that some time ago. I think being on the low end of body stores of Vit D is much more common than people realize.

Yes, but how common are low levels of Vit D and what are the orher negative health effects of low levels?

@Flowerwall Check pub med for the negative health effects.
axis is prevalence of vitamin D def.

@Flowerwall

@glennlab So it seems to correlate? It is something to really think about and even if not deficient, there is a term "insuffiecient" I think it's called.

@Flowerwall The problem with the study, is that there is no data on individuals, only general population data/ There is no direct correlation yet. this is only speculation and most likely will not pass peer review without serious revision. General population trends do not always correspond to actual . . Until it is published in a reputable peer reviewed journal, I would not put much stock in the study. That does not mean to dismiss it, but give it little weight.

@glennlab Considering how widespread deficiency/insufficiency can be in some places, it's something to examine at this point in time. Are you getting out in the sun enough? If you are a minority do you know you might be more at risk for this problem due to needing more time in the sun to synthesize the vitamin? How will you get adequate amounts in the winter?

@Flowerwall There are two issues here.1 Vitamin D defficentcy is a problem. No one is arguing this point and Drs are activiely seeking to find incidents of it and corrrecting and monitoring it in patients. People do need to get checked and not just start taking supplements. It has a high correlation in colorectal cancer, though cause has not been shown. It deserves and is recieving additional studies
2. Is it related to or causal to Covid-19 infection? This study opens the door to begin to study whether there is any correlation. It may be years before adequate studies have been done to establish this. Right now the study has not even been published much less peer reviewed. It is prudent to take all the facts into consideration before determining what course to follow. Remeber not ONE patient was examined in this study, no blood tests examined, no patient data examined, only general population data and then only in Northern European countries. I am not disputing the findings of the study, I am saying they lack in substansive value and pointing out the limiting factors. If you will remember there were previous studies that showed blood type a was more sussepatble, that children couldn't get it, that hydroxycloraquin was effective, that masks were ineffective all disproven, but taken as fact until they were peer reviewed and debunked.

@glennlab Since there is no harm in people asking themselves "Are you getting out in the sun enough? If you are a minority do you know you might be more at risk for this problem due to needing more time in the sun to synthesize the vitamin? How will you get adequate amounts in the winter?" I wouldn't wait for a study that might take years, I would use a now approach to it. If you don't think about Vit D, think about it now. Be aware of this issue. Work with your Dr. to ascertain what approach you should be taking to have the best numbers. Of course don't take high doses of vitamin. But making sure you are getting out in the sun when you can optimize Vit D synthesis is something everyone should be aware of.

@Flowerwall You are still missing the point. Vit D diffecentcy is a serious problem, WE AGREE on that point. The point of the study was that it had a relationship to covid-19, that is unproven. You asked about the study, NOT vitamin D dif. all of my comments had to do with the STUDY.

No. What's coming across as kidding?

Since Vitamin D is fat-soluble, it is quite possible to overdose on it, your body will store excess in your fat. Not something to just "go wild" on, when you start to turn yellow, your liver is in trouble!
Yes, ,like any vitamin/mineral, supplementation can be beneficial (Vitamin C for scurvy, for example) but overdosing with things your body can store in your fat can be dangerous. I looked at how much D was in my multi-vitanmin plus what was in my calcium tablet & it was ALOT!

@AnneWimsey Oops! Shortly after posting it crossed my mind that people would possibly self-dose and accidentally over-dose. You're correct: attention should be paid to how much one takes, and the body's response to it. I take a higher dose because I have a problem with absorption, but people who are not being monitored should not. Thank you for pointing that out.

@AnneWimsey, @Lauren Yes you don't want to take megadoses. But a supplement if you are found to be low, or if you look at your diet and can honestly think you are not consuming enough. I don't know how time in the sun is gauged in terms of vitamin production. But darker skinned people are more at risk because the skin does not produce as much when in the sun.

I was also told by a Dr. my levels were low a few years back. I brushed it off at the time. Not now.

Funny, sad and true.

That's funny, but also very alarming. We should all know what our Vit D levels are and supplement if they are low. I guess this is one area where we can't look to government for the best advice as they are not giving advice on this right now. Even if you take covid out of the picture these Vit D levels are important and an even bigger concern for minorities who tend to be low more often in Vit D stores in the body.

@Flowerwall You men this is one amongst many things we cannot look to the government for the best advice.

Did you read the article I linked?