Vitamin D supplements reduce Covid-19-mortality
VITAMIN D reduces Covid-related deaths by 60%, study finds, sparking demands for the deployment of therapies in all UK hospitals.
The study also found that patients who had been struck by the virus were 80% less likely to be admitted to intensive care.
The research, published by the Social Science Research Network, is being peer reviewed. But Congressman David Davis last night called for the therapy to be rolled out in hospitals, saying it was an "important study."
UK experience
Former Brexit Secretary David Davis said: "The results of this large, well-conducted study should result in this therapy being given to all Covid patients in all hospitals in temperate latitudes."
He added: “Also, since the study demonstrates that the clear relationship between vitamin D and Covid mortality is causal, the UK government should increase the dose and availability of free vitamin D to all vulnerable groups.
"These approaches will save thousands of lives. They are overdue and should be implemented immediately."
Spain experience
As part of the study, more than 550 people admitted to the Covid wards at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, received vitamin D3.
The University of Barcelona study concluded that "the adjusted results showed mortality reduced by more than 60 percent" for those who received the treatment.
The study shows that 36 of 551 patients treated with Calcifediol died from Covid-19 compared to 57 of 379 patients in the control group.
Researchers at Northwestern University have already found that infections and deaths are higher in countries where people have vitamin D levels.
Oxford Report
However, the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford said last year that it "had not found any clinical evidence for vitamin D in COVID-19."
The representative of the Department of Health and Social Affairs said: “Evidence of vitamin D's link to Covid-19 is still being researched and we keep all strong evidence on treatments under review. "
It comes after Boris Johnson revealed he was "optimistic" that the lockdown will be lifted.
On Saturday, government figures revealed that Covid deaths had fallen by more than a quarter in a week.
Another 13,308 citizens have also tested positive for the disease, bringing the total number of infections to 4,027,106.
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