Products made by a North East company are being tested as part of a trial that aims to improve protections against Covid-19.
Morpeth Pharma Nord’s Bio-Vitamin D3 supplements will be taken by more than 5,000 people as part of the Coronavit study being conducted by scientists at Queen Mary University of London.
There is growing evidence that vitamin D could reduce the risk of respiratory infections and some recent studies have suggested that people with lower vitamin D levels may be more susceptible to coronavirus.
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It is hoped that the London study will establish whether taking Vitamin D supplements will increase people’s ability to survive the illness, with Pharma Nord chosen to taken part because of its long history of helping in clinical trials.
Managing director Bent Henriksen, Pharma Nord 海角视频 managing director, said: “To be chosen for one of the most important and high profile clinical trials in recent years is a real accolade for Pharma Nord and the North East and a hugely valuable seal of approval for the quality, safety and bioavailability of our Bio-Vitamin D3.
“The scientists at Queen Mary University are doing some amazing work in this field and it will be fascinating to see how the Coronavit study pans out.
“It was vitally important for them to choose a vitamin D supplement with a proven track record in clinical trials and documented evidence of its effectiveness in raising levels of vitamin D in the blood.
“Pharma Nord Bio-Vitamin D3 ticks both boxes in this respect and the fact that it is made to pharmaceutical standards is a further sign of quality which will be crucial when it comes to assessing the results of such a large-scale trial.”
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The six-month trial will see participants given supplements of vitamin D in two different strengths, with half taking 20-microgram capsules and the other half will be given capsules with 80 micrograms.
Vitamin D is produced naturally in the skin when it comes into contact with sunlight, but production can drop in many people in the 海角视频 in the gloomier winter months.
Older people, people who are overweight and members of some BAME communities can be susceptible to lower levels of Vitamin D and many people already take supplements to protect their bone health.
It is hoped that the Queen Mary study will show whether the supplements also help with respiratory conditions, in particular coronavirus.
Pharma Nord - whose vitman supplements have been used in a number of other scientific studies - established its 海角视频 headquarters in Morpeth more than 30 years ago from where it continues to supply consumers, independent pharmacies, health food stores and healthcare professionals across the 海角视频.