In Ireland, vitamin D supplementation is recommended for infants(1), 1–5-year-olds(2)and older adults(3), while recommendations for 5–65-year-olds are being developed. Food supplements placed on the Irish market must be notified to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI)(4) who provide guidance on maximum safe levels (MSL) of micronutrients(5). Despite the promotion of high-dose vitamin D supplements to protect against COVID-19 during the pandemic, no evidence exists underpinning this(6). This study aims to assess the trend in vitamin D-containing supplements notified before and during the pandemic.
Vitamin D-containing food supplements notified to FSAI between 4th January 2017 and 30thDecember 2021 were identified and assessed in terms of numbers notified before (i.e., 2017–2019) and during (i.e., 2020–2021) the pandemic and amounts of vitamin D provided. In addition, the number of supplements exceeding the adult tolerable upper level (UL; 100 µg) and adult MSL (75 µg), those targeting young children (1–3 years), units of vitamin D used and whether the supplement was a vitamin D-only or a multivitamin/mineral product, were examined. SPSS (version 25) was used to carry out descriptive analysis, while trend analysis was assessed using ANOVA.
A total of 2689 vitamin-D containing food supplements were identified. There was a significant increase in the number of vitamin D-containing supplements notified during the pandemic (1373 in 2020–2021 vs. 1316 in 2017–2019, P<0.001). When the supplements were grouped into those notified  before and during the pandemic, a significant increase in the mean amount of vitamin D provided by those notified during the pandemic was observed (19 µg in 2021–2020 vs. 11 µg in 2017–2019, P<0.001). This reflected a year-on-year upward trend in the mean amount of vitamin D provided (11 µg in 2017–2019 vs. 16 µg in 2020 vs. 21 µg in 2021, P<0.001). Of the 2689 vitamin D-containing supplements, <1% (n9) were above the UL and 3% (n80) were above the MSL, the majority of which were notified during the pandemic (n3 in 2017–2019 vs. n6 in 2020–2021 above the UL; n18 in 2017–2019 vs. n62 in 2020–2021 above the MSL). Only 2% (n45) of the total notified supplements were targeted specifically at young children, with none of those supplements exceeding the UL for that age group (50 µg). The majority of notified vitamin D-containing supplements were in multivitamin/mineral form (94%). Many supplement products failed to provide vitamin D amounts in units used in the EU.
In conclusion, the number of notified vitamin D-containing supplements, and the amount of vitamin D provided, during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased significantly. Of concern are the supplements that provide vitamin D above the MSL guidance in Ireland and the UL.
1. FSAI (2020) https://www.fsai.ie/Recommendations_Update_VitaminD/
2. FSAI (2020) https://www.fsai.ie/Dietary_Recommendations_1-5_Year_Olds/
3. FSAI (2020) https://www.fsai.ie/VitaminD_DietaryGuidelines_OlderAdults_Ireland/
4. S.I. No. 506 of 2007, as amended
5. FSAI (2020) https://www.fsai.ie/FoodBusinessGuidance_SafetyVitaminsMineralsFoodSupplements/
6. McKenna & Flynn (2021) Ir Med J 113; 5; P79

In Ireland, vitamin D supplementation is recommended for infants(1), 1–5-year-olds(2)and older adults(3), while recommendations for 5–65-year-olds are being developed. Food supplements placed on the Irish market must be notified to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI)(4) who provide guidance on maximum safe levels (MSL) of micronutrients(5). Despite the promotion of high-dose vitamin D supplements to protect against COVID-19 during the pandemic, no evidence exists underpinning this(6). This study aims to assess the trend in vitamin D-containing supplements notified before and during the pandemic.
Vitamin D-containing food supplements notified to FSAI between 4th January 2017 and 30thDecember 2021 were identified and assessed in terms of numbers notified before (i.e., 2017–2019) and during (i.e., 2020–2021) the pandemic and amounts of vitamin D provided. In addition, the number of supplements exceeding the adult tolerable upper level (UL; 100 µg) and adult MSL (75 µg), those targeting young children (1–3 years), units of vitamin D used and whether the supplement was a vitamin D-only or a multivitamin/mineral product, were examined. SPSS (version 25) was used to carry out descriptive analysis, while trend analysis was assessed using ANOVA.
A total of 2689 vitamin-D containing food supplements were identified. There was a significant increase in the number of vitamin D-containing supplements notified during the pandemic (1373 in 2020–2021 _vs._ 1316 in 2017–2019, _P_<0.001). When the supplements were grouped into those notified  before and during the pandemic, a significant increase in the mean amount of vitamin D provided by those notified during the pandemic was observed (19 µg in 2021–2020 _vs_. 11 µg in 2017–2019, _P_<0.001). This reflected a year-on-year upward trend in the mean amount of vitamin D provided (11 µg in 2017–2019 _vs._ 16 µg in 2020 _vs_. 21 µg in 2021, _P_<0.001). Of the 2689 vitamin D-containing supplements, <1% (_n_9) were above the UL and 3% (_n_80) were above the MSL, the majority of which were notified during the pandemic (_n_3 in 2017–2019 _vs_. _n_6 in 2020–2021 above the UL; _n_18 in 2017–2019 _vs_. _n_62 in 2020–2021 above the MSL). Only 2% (_n_45) of the total notified supplements were targeted specifically at young children, with none of those supplements exceeding the UL for that age group (50 µg). The majority of notified vitamin D-containing supplements were in multivitamin/mineral form (94%). Many supplement products failed to provide vitamin D amounts in units used in the EU.
In conclusion, the number of notified vitamin D-containing supplements, and the amount of vitamin D provided, during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased significantly. Of concern are the supplements that provide vitamin D above the MSL guidance in Ireland and the UL.
1. FSAI (2020) [https://www.fsai.ie/Recommendations_Update_VitaminD/](https://www.fsai.ie/Recommendations_Update_VitaminD/)
2. FSAI (2020) [https://www.fsai.ie/Dietary_Recommendations_1-5_Year_Olds/](https://www.fsai.ie/Dietary_Recommendations_1-5_Year_Olds/)
3. FSAI (2020) [https://www.fsai.ie/VitaminD_DietaryGuidelines_OlderAdults_Ireland/](https://www.fsai.ie/VitaminD_DietaryGuidelines_OlderAdults_Ireland/)
4. S.I. No. 506 of 2007, as amended
5. FSAI (2020) [https://www.fsai.ie/FoodBusinessGuidance_SafetyVitaminsMineralsFoodSupplements/](https://www.fsai.ie/FoodBusinessGuidance_SafetyVitaminsMineralsFoodSupplements/)
6. McKenna & Flynn (2021) _Ir Med J_ 113; 5; P79

Vitamin D and the COVID-19 pandemic: notified supplements in Ireland before and during the pandemic

Modern nutrition science is young: It is less than one century since the first vitamin was isolated in 1926. Nutrition science stands upon research conducted by academia, the private sector, and nongovernmental organisations, often in collaboration across these sectors. Its evidence base is of fundamental importance to the solving of current challenges and complexities, optimising outcomes, and the prevention of harm.

In order to remain relevant, nutrition science must address the global challenges, including ensuring nutrition security for all, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and in the context of the post-COVID era. It is timely to take stock and consider how nutrition science must move forward.

The conference is designed integrate three symposium sessions which will commence with reflection on historical exemplars of nutrition achievements, then moving the discussion to current challenges which face the discipline and will culminate in scoping the outlook for nutrition science going forward.