Title: Recognizing the benefits of vitamin D intake for preventing respiratory infection and COVID-19 complications, and to encourage the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to issue guidance on vitamin D intake for elderly and immunocompromised individuals during the coronavirus pandemic.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the benefits of vitamin D to the immune system and the correlation between vitamin D deficiencies and poor COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outcomes. It also encourages federal agencies to issue guidance on vitamin D intake during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 116 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 116

Recognizing the benefits of vitamin D intake for preventing respiratory 
infection and COVID-19 complications, and to encourage the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to 
 issue guidance on vitamin D intake for elderly and immunocompromised 
              individuals during the coronavirus pandemic.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 11, 2021

Mr. Grothman submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the benefits of vitamin D intake for preventing respiratory 
infection and COVID-19 complications, and to encourage the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to 
 issue guidance on vitamin D intake for elderly and immunocompromised 
              individuals during the coronavirus pandemic.

Whereas, in December 2020, 120 health, science, and medical experts from the 
        United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe sent an open letter to 
        world governments asserting that there is clear scientific evidence that 
        vitamin D reduces COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths;
Whereas, in July 2020, the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 
        (ASBMR), the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), 
        the Endocrine Society, the European Calcified Tissue Society, the 
        National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), and the International 
        Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) issued joint guidance on vitamin D intake 
        during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas over 40 percent of American adults are vitamin D deficient and 
        deficiency rates within African-American and Latino populations range 
        from 70 to 80 percent;
Whereas, in September 2020, United States infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony 
        Fauci publicly commented on the importance of vitamin D for immune 
        health and vitamin D deficiencies resulting in increased susceptibility 
        to infection;
Whereas the United Kingdom National Health Service has a program to distribute 
        vitamin D supplements to over 2.5 million at-risk individuals, including 
        seniors, individuals in long-term care facilities, and individuals with 
        preexisting health conditions, during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland's public health agencies issued 
        guidance encouraging vitamin D intake throughout the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas several studies conducted by medical research teams and United States 
        medical institutions have demonstrated a correlation between vitamin D 
        deficiencies and poor COVID-19 patient outcomes, including studies by 
        Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Medicine;
Whereas Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health is organizing a 
        clinical trial of 2,700 participants to examine the relationship between 
        vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes; and
Whereas there are over 30 active clinical trials and 13 completed clinical 
        trials worldwide examining the correlation between COVID-19 infection 
        and vitamin D: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the benefits of vitamin D intake against 
        preventing respiratory complications and infection;
            (2) recognizes the benefits of vitamin D intake for 
        improved immune health and response;
            (3) recognizes the correlation between vitamin D 
        deficiencies and poor COVID-19 patient outcomes, including 
        hospital stays, ICU admittance, and mortality; and
            (4) encourages the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to update 
        existing guidance and issue new guidance on vitamin D intake 
        during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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