The latest Investing Matters Podcast episode featuring Jeremy Skillington, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma has just been released. Listen here.
London South East prides itself on its community spirit, and in order to keep the chat section problem free, we ask all members to follow these simple rules. In these rules, we refer to ourselves as "we", "us", "our". The user of the website is referred to as "you" and "your".
By posting on our share chat boards you are agreeing to the following:
The IP address of all posts is recorded to aid in enforcing these conditions. As a user you agree to any information you have entered being stored in a database. You agree that we have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic or board at any time should we see fit. You agree that we have the right to remove any post without notice. You agree that we have the right to suspend your account without notice.
Please note some users may not behave properly and may post content that is misleading, untrue or offensive.
It is not possible for us to fully monitor all content all of the time but where we have actually received notice of any content that is potentially misleading, untrue, offensive, unlawful, infringes third party rights or is potentially in breach of these terms and conditions, then we will review such content, decide whether to remove it from this website and act accordingly.
Premium Members are members that have a premium subscription with London South East. You can subscribe here.
London South East does not endorse such members, and posts should not be construed as advice and represent the opinions of the authors, not those of London South East Ltd, or its affiliates.
Ministers are to reconsider vitamin D as a potential weapon against Covid-19 after Matt Han**** wrongly claimed that government scientists had run unsuccessful tests.
The health secretary told the Commons last week that he had ordered a trial that showed vitamin D did not “appear to have any impact”. Officials now admit that no trials took place.
New evidence from Spain suggests that vitamin D, which some scientists believe helps to prevent a fatal overreaction to the virus, could save lives.
IN YOUR INBOX
Coronavirus update
For a concise rundown of the developments that matter, combined with expert analysis, sign up to receive our dedicated daily coronavirus newsletter
Sign up now
Mr Han**** has now agreed to meet MPs, including David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, and Rupa Huq, a Labour backbencher, to hear the growing case for the vitamin, which people synthesise through exposure to the sun.
Experts say that time is running out for ministers to act as levels drop significantly in autumn and winter. Charles Bangham, chairman in immunology at Imperial College London, said: “Public Health England already recommends that everybody take a daily vitamin D supplement but the message is not getting through to a large section of the population.
“As we move into autumn and winter, vitamin D levels will fall and more of the population will become deficient. On that basis, whatever is to be done must be done swiftly. We have nothing to lose but much to gain by eradicating deficiency.”
The recent study by Cordoba University in Spain found that of 50 patients with Covid-19 who were given vitamin D at a hospital in the city, only one needed intensive care and none died. Half of 26 virus sufferers who did not take vitamin D were later admitted to intensive care and two died.
INTERACTIVE
Tracking coronavirus in the UK: where the latest cases have spread
See how the virus has escalated in areas across the country as the number of identified cases in Britain continues to grow
Read more
In June Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, chief midwifery officer at NHS England, sent a memo to all maternity units warning that “women low in vitamin D may be more vulnerable to coronavirus”.
Anthony Fauci, the leading expert on infectious disease in the US, has said that he takes vitamin D to cut the odds of becoming ill.
Mr Han**** told MPs last week in reply to a question from Dr Huq: “Vitamin D is one of the many things that we have looked into, to see whether it reduces the incidence or impact of coronavirus. The results were that it does not appear to have any impact.”
Dr Huq, in a point of order on Monday this week, said: “[Mr Han****] said that he had conducted a trial and there was no effect. It turns out that there was no trial. Apparently it was a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence review of secondary evidence on July 1. The word ‘trial’ implies fresh evidence, not reheated leftovers.”
Vitamin D is also available