Matt Hancock wrongly claims vitamin D doesn't work for Covid-19

Health Secretary Matt Hancock was told to 'get his facts straight' today after shooting down vitamin D as a potential coronavirus treatment despite a growing body of evidence from around the world suggesting it works. Countries with low vitamin D levels tend to have the highest case rates per million - but the graph was from a study in May, when outbreaks looked very different to how they do now and testing was patchy in most countries University of Chicago researchers studying 500 Americans' vitamin D levels found 60 per cent higher rates of Covid-19 among people with low levels of the 'sunshine vitamin' What have just some of the DOZENS of studies into vitamin D and Covid-19 shown? 60 per cent higher rates of Covid-19 among people with low levels of the 'sunshine vitamin'. For instance, researchers at the University of East Anglia in May said: 'The most vulnerable group of population for Covid-19 is also the one that has the most deficit in vitamin D.' While University of Chicago scientists last month found that rates of Covid-19 were 60 per cent higher among people with low levels of the sunshine nutrient. However many medics - including Dr Malhotra, one of Britain's leading anti-obesity campaigners and a former NHS cardiologist, and Professor Asif Ahmed, vice chancellor for healthcare at Aston University in Birmingham - believe that vitamin D deficiency among BAME people may be a hidden driver behind why non-whites are being disproportionately affected by Covid-19.