Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government through the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and NHS Research Scotland (NRS) is providing support for research studies taking place in Scotland that have been prioritised through the Urgent Public Health Research into COVID-19 process managed by the National Institute for Health Research. This process, which is based on independent scientific advice and operates on an agreed UK-wide basis, helps to ensure that the best use is made of the constrained resources and capacity available to support clinical research in the NHS. It prioritises studies that hold the most promise for addressing COVID-19 challenges, and helps ensure no duplication of effort. Currently, no studies in Scotland investigating vitamin D levels and COVID-19 disease are being supported by CSO and NRS.

Public Health Scotland’s Scottish Public Health Network and Knowledge Services teams have been working with colleagues in both public health pharmacy and public health nutrition in local NHS Boards on a rapid synthesis of the existing evidence base on the need for vitamin D supplementation, over and above existing guidance on vitamin D supplementation, and the role high dose vitamin D may have in the treatment of people with COVID-19. This work is still at an early stage.