Question reference: S5W-35297
- Asked by: Fulton MacGregor, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 17 February 2021
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 February 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review its advice on vitamin D intake for (a) the general population and (b) specific groups, in light of reports of recent international studies that indicate that it might have a potential role as a mitigation measure against COVID-19.
Answer
Current advice on vitamin D specifically relates to protecting musculoskeletal (bone and muscle) health and is based on the consensus of scientific evidence as presented to all UK nations by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).
In June 2020, SACN and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the outcome of their reviews on vitamin D and COVID-19. Both found no evidence at that time to support that vitamin D can improve COVID-19 outcomes.
The SACN rapid review is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads
/attachment_data/file/944108/SACN_June2020_VitaminD_AcuteRespiratoryTractInfections.pdf
The NICE evidence summary was available at https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/es28
In December 2020, NICE, SACN, and Public Health England published updated guidance on vitamin D in relation to COVID-19 following a rapid review of recent evidence. The guidance states that there is still currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. It reiterates that people should continue to follow advice on vitamin D supplementation to maintain bone and muscle health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NICE guideline is available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG187 . The guideline replaced the NICE evidence summary.
NICE continues to monitor new evidence published on vitamin D in relation to COVID-19 and will review and update the guidance if necessary.
We will continue to be guided by NICE and SACN as the evidence base develops. We will review our advice on vitamin D as necessary based on their recommendations.