Health experts have urged the Government to introduce a policy of using vitamin D to battle Covid-19.

Members of the Covid-T Consortium say the vitamin will help the country back on its feet after the pandemic.

Research shows vitamin D reduces mortality among people diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Dr Daniel McCartney, director of human nutrition and dietetics at TU Dublin, said:

“Very large background studies pooling data from dozens of individual trials have described an approximately 10% reduction in risk of respiratory infection amongst people taking vitamin D supplements, and a more than 50% reduction in risk amongst those with low vitamin D levels to begin with, especially if taking supplements daily.

“So, there is robust evidence that vitamin D protects against respiratory infections in general.

“Since May 2020, geographic studies have shown that Covid-19 incidence and mortality are higher in countries far from the equator and in countries with confirmed low vitamin D status.

“Furthermore, the population groups who are most likely to be vitamin D deficient are the same groups who have suffered the worst effects of Covid-19.”