Vitamin D to reduce risk of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Phase 3 randomised controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation to reduce risk and severity of COVID-19 and other acute respiratory infections in the UK population (CORONAVIT)
IRAS ID
289515
Contact name
Adrian Martineau
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Management Office, Queen Mary University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 12 days
Research summary
A winter surge in COVID-19 and influenza threatens to overwhelm the NHS. Strategies to boost the UK population’s immunity to respiratory viruses are urgently needed pending development of an effective vaccine for coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Vitamin D supplementation is a promising candidate. The ‘sunshine vitamin’ has been shown to boost immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in laboratory experiments. It is striking that risk factors for severe COVID-19 (being of Black or Asian ethic origin, being older, living in a care home, being overweight) are the same as those for vitamin D deficiency.
CORONAVIT is a large clinical trial testing whether vitamin D supplements reduce risk of COVID-19 in the UK population. A total of 5,440 people who are already enrolled in an existing cohort study (COVIDENCE_UK) and who are not already taking vitamin D will be randomly assigned to control (no supplements) or to receive a free postal fingerprick test of their vitamin D level. If this shows deficiency, participants will be sent a 6-month postal supply of vitamin D supplementation at a dose of 800 IU/day or 3,200 IU/day. Participants will be followed up over winter and spring, when vitamin D levels are lowest: cases of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections will be identified using monthly on-line questionnaires and by linkage to NHS databases.
CORONAVIT will provide a rapid and definitive answer to the question of whether targeted vitamin D supplementation can reduce risk and/or severity of COVID-19 and other acute respiratory infections. Positive results of the study would have a global impact, as vitamin D supplementation is inexpensive and safe.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/HRA/5095
Date of REC Opinion
23 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion