Vitamins and supplements

NICE advice regarding vitamins and supplements is to “explain to people that it is not known if over-the-counter vitamins and supplements are helpful, harmful or have no effect in the treatment of new or ongoing symptoms of Covid€‘19”. 

The NHS Covid recovery website advises that patients who are eating less than they used to, or are finding that they cannot eat a sufficiently healthy diet, may wish to consider taking multi- vitamin and mineral supplements. 

NICE advises not to offer a vitamin D supplement to people solely to prevent or to treat Covid€‘19, except as part of a clinical trial. It recommends following the Government’s advice on vitamin D that applies to everyone.

In particular, NICE advises that patients who spend most of their time indoors, are over 65 years of age, or have a darker skin tone and thus may not make enough vitamin D, should consider taking a daily 10mcg (400 units) vitamin D supplement. Many people may have been spending more time indoors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.