Study says vitamin D reduces risk of COVID-19 deaths

A recent study says a deficiency in vitamin D can lead to higher risk of COVID-19 complications and deaths.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient needed for bones, muscles and teeth health.

It also helps in supporting lung function and cardiovascular health.

The study was carried out by scientists from Boston University’s school of medicine and published in the journal PLOS ONE.

It analysed the hospital data of 235 patients infected with COVID-19, with their blood samples taken to measure vitamin D levels.

“Overall, a cutoff point of 30 ng/mL was used for the definition of vitamin D sufficiency based on the Endocrine Society’s Practice Guidelines on Vitamin D that defined vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency as a circulating level of 25(OH)D of <20 ng/mL and 20–29 ng/mL respectively,” the researchers said.

According to the study, 74 percent of the patients had severe COVID-19 infection and 32.8 percent were vitamin D sufficient.

”After adjusting for confounding factors, there was a significant association between vitamin D sufficiency and reduction in clinical severity,” it said.

It added that “also, the severity of COVID-19 infection in patients with vitamin D sufficiency was lower than other patients with higher levels of 25(OH)D”.

The scientists advised people to take daily doses of vitamin D supplements especially during the cold season.

“Therefore, it is recommended that improving vitamin D status in the general population and in particular hospitalized patients has a potential benefit in reducing the severity of morbidities and mortality associated with acquiring COVID-19,” the study concluded.

Michael Holick, study author, explained: “There is great concern that the combination of an influenza infection and a coronal viral infection could substantially increase hospitalisations and death due to complications from these viral infections.

“Because vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is so widespread in children and adults in the US and worldwide, especially in the winter months, it is prudent for everyone to take a vitamin D supplement to reduce risk of being infected and having complications from Covid-19.”

Food rich in vitamin D include dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, cereals, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, oatmeal, mackerel and salmon.