Read on Twitter
Does Vitamin D deficiency explain why more non-White people are dying from COVID-19?
Let's start with a quick poll - if all non-White people took Vitamin D supplements their COVID-19 deaths rates (adjusted for age) compared to White people would be:
Let's start with a quick poll - if all non-White people took Vitamin D supplements their COVID-19 deaths rates (adjusted for age) compared to White people would be:
2/15
I am not a clinician so please do not take this as clinical advice. Speak to your GP and get their advice about your specific choice about whether to supplement or not.
Here is what the NHS says on the matter: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
I am not a clinician so please do not take this as clinical advice. Speak to your GP and get their advice about your specific choice about whether to supplement or not.
Here is what the NHS says on the matter: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
3/15
I am a health economist and can say if your GP recommends it then as Vitamin D is cheap, there is little evidence of harm and there are suggestions of benefit then go for it - common sense
I am a health economist and can say if your GP recommends it then as Vitamin D is cheap, there is little evidence of harm and there are suggestions of benefit then go for it - common sense
4/15
However Vitamin D is unlikely to be the silver bullet there are so many other factors...
However Vitamin D is unlikely to be the silver bullet there are so many other factors...
5/15
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D increases the size of your house:
https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/housing/housing-conditions/overcrowded-households/latest#data-sources
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D increases the size of your house:
https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/housing/housing-conditions/overcrowded-households/latest#data-sources
6/15
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D gives you a less precarious job where you get sick pay and can work from home: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/bme-workers-far-more-likely-be-trapped-insecure-work-tuc-analysis-reveals
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D gives you a less precarious job where you get sick pay and can work from home: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/bme-workers-far-more-likely-be-trapped-insecure-work-tuc-analysis-reveals
7/15
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D gives you a job that reduces your exposure on the front lines:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19relateddeathsbyoccupationenglandandwales/deathsregistereduptoandincluding20april2020
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D gives you a job that reduces your exposure on the front lines:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19relateddeathsbyoccupationenglandandwales/deathsregistereduptoandincluding20april2020
8/15
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D moves you to a more affluent neighbourhood: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19bylocalareasanddeprivation/deathsoccurringbetween1marchand17april
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D moves you to a more affluent neighbourhood: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19bylocalareasanddeprivation/deathsoccurringbetween1marchand17april
9/15
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D stops you being literally spat at by infected people or given adequate access to PPE: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/12/uk-rail-worker-dies-coronavirus-spat-belly-mujinga
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D stops you being literally spat at by infected people or given adequate access to PPE: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/12/uk-rail-worker-dies-coronavirus-spat-belly-mujinga
10/15
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D stops you being symbolically spat at or given adequate access to PPE: https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-13/discrimination-frontline-coronavirus-covid19-black-minority-ethnic-bame-deaths-nhs-racism/
There is no convincing evidence that Vitamin D stops you being symbolically spat at or given adequate access to PPE: https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-13/discrimination-frontline-coronavirus-covid19-black-minority-ethnic-bame-deaths-nhs-racism/
11/15
If you are looking for a silver bullet that may help with many of these in handy pill form then propranolol may be your answer: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-012-2657-5 though just like with masks it only works if those that are "sick" all take it
If you are looking for a silver bullet that may help with many of these in handy pill form then propranolol may be your answer: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-012-2657-5 though just like with masks it only works if those that are "sick" all take it
12/15
Time for another poll - if all White people took propranolol supplements COVID-19 deaths rates (adjusted for age) for non-White people would be:
Time for another poll - if all White people took propranolol supplements COVID-19 deaths rates (adjusted for age) for non-White people would be:
13/15
Speaking of masks there are suggestions that they may also help mitigate some of these factors: https://twitter.com/adamzyglis/status/1259126002770477056?s=20
Speaking of masks there are suggestions that they may also help mitigate some of these factors: https://twitter.com/adamzyglis/status/1259126002770477056?s=20
14/15
Next time you feel the need to close down an uncomfortable discussion on structural racism using Vitamin D science think about where excess deaths are coming from and how Vitamin D might help
Next time you feel the need to close down an uncomfortable discussion on structural racism using Vitamin D science think about where excess deaths are coming from and how Vitamin D might help
15/15
In summary if you think Vitamin D will help you speak to your GP and if safe for you sure take it - just remember it doesn't cure all ills in the world and may be an ideologically convenient explanation for those who want to keep spitting at you.
In summary if you think Vitamin D will help you speak to your GP and if safe for you sure take it - just remember it doesn't cure all ills in the world and may be an ideologically convenient explanation for those who want to keep spitting at you.
