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.