Dr Charles Shepherd, Honorary Medical Adviser to the ME Association has updated the information on Vitamin D and Deficiency in this booklet.
There is growing interest in the role of vitamin D – the ‘sunshine vitamin’ – in both ME/CFS and Long Covid. Firstly, because there are reasons why people with ME/CFS and Long Covid are at increased risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Secondly, because vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle symptoms and fatigue that add to the ill health and disability experienced by people with ME/CFS and Long Covid.
Key points
- Vitamin D helps to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body and keeps bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
- A lack of vitamin D can lead to potentially serious bone diseases called osteomalacia (softening of the bones) and osteoporosis (loss of bone density).
- The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when people are outdoors.
- The 2021 NICE guideline (at section 1.12.23) states that people with ME/CFS, especially those who are largely or totally housebound, are at increased risk of developing vitamin D deficiency.
- Research evidence has confirmed that some people with ME/CFS, especially those with severe or very severe ME/CFS, have a significant deficiency of vitamin D.
- Vitamin D status should therefore form part of the clinical assessment of people with ME/CFS along with appropriate treatment of any deficiency.
- The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that people who are not often outdoors should take a supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 international units) of vitamin D throughout the year.
- Overdosing on vitamin D supplements can cause serious side effects. Doses above the recommended daily dose should therefore be prescribed by your doctor.
