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Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Thursday, 14 January 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 January 2021. It was answered by Jo Churchill (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 February 2021 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Dietary Supplements: Coronavirus

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of offering free (a) zinc and (b) vitamin D supplements to the general population during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answer

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) carried out a rapid scoping exercise on nutrition and immune function in relation to COVID-19 which included consideration of zinc. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Public Health England (PHE) and the SACN also carried out assessments of the available evidence on vitamin D and COVID-19. None of the studies found robust evidence to support taking zinc or vitamin D supplements to reduce the risk or severity of COVID-19. NICE, PHE and the SACN are continuing to monitor evidence as it is published and will review and update guidance if necessary.

The longstanding Government advice is that between October and early March everyone is advised to take a supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 international units) of vitamin D a day to protect their bone and muscle health. This is because we cannot make vitamin D from sunlight in the United Kingdom at this time of year. From January, the Government is providing a free four-month supply of daily vitamin D supplements to adults on the clinically extremely vulnerable list that have opted in to receive the supplements and residents in residential and nursing care homes in England. The Government has prioritised groups that were asked to stay indoors more than usual over the spring and summer due to national restrictions.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
137891
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Dietary supplements Zinc Vitamin D Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk