thevaccinereaction--2020-07-19--Vitamin D Deficiency Studies and COVID-19

Medical scientists investigating the association between vitamin deficiency and illness in humans have long known that adequate levels of vitamin D must be maintained for health .
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic , there were observations that people with vitamin D deficiency may be at greater risk for suffering complications and death.1 Recently , the scientific community has begun to take a closer look.2 Within the last month , three health organizations in the United Kingdom published reports advising people to make sure they maintain adequate levels of vitamin D , either through controlled sun exposure or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more research is needed , the Scientific Advisory Commission on Nutrition , the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Royal Society discussed the health benefits of vitamin D.3 Recently , researchers in Dallas , Texas analyzed data sets from ten European countries and found a strong correlation between severe vitamin D deficiency and death rate per million from COVID-19 .
Looking at data from the U.K. , Ireland , France , Germany , Belgium , the Netherlands , Denmark , Finland , Norway and Estonia , the researchers concluded that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that approximately 58 % of COVID-19 mortality can be explained by severe deficiency in vitamin D.4 This study has not yet been peer reviewed , but the authors report the correlation was strong enough for them to recommend “ universal screening for Vitamin D deficiency , and further investigation of vitamin D supplementation in randomized control studies , which may lead to possible treatment or prevention of COVID-19.
” 5 According to Adrian Martineau , a professor of respiratory infection and immunity at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there have been no laboratory studies specifically evaluating the effects of vitamin D on the immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus , studies have looked at the role of vitamin D levels in other respiratory viral infections .
According to Martineau , those studies have shown that vitamin D metabolites “ augment innate antiviral immune responses while simultaneously dampening down inflammation , which has been highlighted as a major problem in covid-19.
” 6 He added : While some observational studies suggest that there may be an association between low vitamin D levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others have found no correlation between vitamin D supplementation and risk for or severity of COVID-19.7 Evidence for Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Respiratory Infections The link between vitamin D deficiency and severity of symptoms during respiratory infections has been well documented .
As more public health agencies begin to look at the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation to treat or alleviate symptoms of COVID-19 , previously published evidence for a link between vitamin D levels and other respiratory illnesses is being re-examined .
In 2017 , a systematic review and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 randomized , controlled trials concluded that vitamin D supplementation was strongly protective against acute respiratory tract infection among all participants.8 This meta-analysis has garnered a lot of attention recently .
According to the British Medical Journal , the article has been accessed on line more than 300,000 times since the beginning of the pandemic.9 This same analysis by Martineau et al.
, as well as three others that also reported a protective effect of vitamin D supplementation , were reviewed for the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .10 In their commentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45 studies included in the various analyses , a consistent benefit was shown for vitamin D supplementation for preventing respiratory tract infection .
Three showed a particular benefit in children younger than 16 years of age ; two of the three reported that the protective effect was only seen with single daily doses but not with a bolus , or loading dose .
One of the reviews suggested that doses of 800 IU or less were protective , but higher doses were not .
Noting that vitamin D deficiencies are common worldwide , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evaluate different doses and intervals of supplementation , as well as to determine whether there is any additional benefit to be had once vitamin D levels have been normalized .
An essential nutrient , vitamin D plays an important role in keeping a number of the body ’ s systems healthy .
Besides promoting healthy bones and teeth , vitamin D also supports immune , brain and nervous system health , regulates insulin levels , supports lung and cardiovascular function .
Vitamin D is more accurately described as a prohormone , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a true vitamin solely obtained from food .
Vitamin D is primarily generated in the human body through exposure to sunlight , though it also can be acquired through certain foods such as oily fish , red meat , egg yolks and fortified milk and juices.11 Explaining vitamin D ’ s critical effects on the immune system , Habib Sadeghi , DO states : Sadeghi adds that vitamin D also is known to have potent antimicrobial properties and was historically used successfully to treat infectious diseases , including tuberculosis and leprosy , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can contribute to decreased vitamin D levels .
Both the increased levels of melanin in darker skin and the use of sunscreen , for example , can hamper the absorption of ultraviolet radiation B ( UVB ) rays from the sun necessary for the skin to produce vitamin D. Similarly , those who live at northern latitudes , those who work night shifts or are otherwise unable to get adequate sun exposure , and some babies who are exclusively breastfed may also develop vitamin D deficiency.13 However , too much vitamin D can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of supplements , which can lead to dehydration , increased thirst , vomiting , abdominal cramps and mental confusion.14 Vitamin D deficiency is more common among people who smoke , as well as among those who are obese or have diabetes and high blood pressure – all chronic health conditions that have been associated with increased risks for COVID-19 complications and death .
Some have speculated that during the winter months of 2020 , with many people sheltering indoors , the chances of developing vitamin D deficiency were increased.15 There are currently 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential relationship between vitamin D and COVID-19 .
Results of those studies are expected to clarify whether supplemental vitamin D might have a positive role to play in the management of COVID-19 patients with low vitamin D levels.16