Vitamin D For Your Immune System

Vitamin D For Your Immune System

There has been increasing evidence over the last 20 years that the best way to prevent infections is to have a strong immune system.

If you have a strong immune system it is harder for any infection to take hold and easier for your body to fight it off.

During the COVID-19 pandemic there has been increasing interest in the role of vitamin D because it has a role in reducing inflammation. What seems to cause the severe COVID-19 cases is an out of control inflammatory response.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have recently updated their guidelines. I have included the link to their page below.

NICE Guidelines

The guidelines suggest:

• Adults (including women who are pregnant or breastfeeding), young people and children over 4 years should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 units; also called international units [IU]) of vitamin D between October and early March because people do not make enough vitamin D from sunlight in these months.

• Adults, young people and children over 4 years should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 units) of vitamin D throughout the year:

   

  • if they have little or no sunshine exposure including because they:

     

    • are not often outdoors, for example, if they are frail, housebound or living in a care home

    • usually wear clothes that cover up most of their skin when outdoors

    • are spending most of their time indoors because of the COVID‑19 pandemic

     

  • if they have dark skin, for example, if they are of African, African-Caribbean or south Asian family origin, because they may not make enough vitamin D from sunlight.

  Other sources are suggesting between 1000 IU and 4000 IU. The recommended maximum daily dose is 4000 IU according to the Institute of Medicine.

  High dose vitamin D can interact from some prescription drugs. If you are taking any prescription drugs check HERE or with your pharmacist.

  However, your immune system needs a wide array of vitamins and minerals to function properly so during the winter I always take a good quality multivitamin with minerals and get outside as often as I can. A good diet and exercise are also essential throughout the year.