Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is vital for maintaining healthy bones. But this fat-soluble vitamin also plays a pivotal role in boosting the function of your immune system. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency may weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to infections, including the deadly COVID-19. There is emerging evidence to support the link between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 infection. A low vitamin D level has been found in many COVID-19 patients. Another research has found an association between vitamin D deficiency and the likelihood of becoming infected with the novel coronavirus. Also Read – 5 immunity-boosting plants that you can grow during COVID-19 pandemic

For the new study, researchers at UChicago Medicine looked at 483 patients whose vitamin D levels were measured within a year before being tested for COVID-19. They found that patients who had vitamin D deficiency were almost twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 when compared to patients who had necessary levels of the vitamin in their body. Also Read – Post-COVID syndrome: A new childhood disease that severely damages children’s heart

Vitamin D supplements have previously been linked to a lower risk of viral respiratory tract infections. The new study suggests this may be true for the COVID-19 infection as well, noted David Meltzer, MD, PhD, Chief of Hospital Medicine at UChicago Medicine and lead author of the study. Also Read – National Nutrition Week 2020: 5 ways to ensure that you’re getting adequate sunshine vitamin

Meltzer and his team stressed the need for more studies to determine whether Vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 cases and what dosage would be most effective.

Vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 mortality 

A study, which was published in the journal Aging Clinical and Experimental Research in May this year, had linked low levels of vitamin D with a higher mortality rate among COVID-19 patients.

The researchers then noted that older adults are mostly deficient in vitamin D, and that makes them more vulnerable to the COVID-19 infection.

According to them, low average vitamin D levels among the population in northern European countries like Spain and Italy may be a reason why they are facing high COVID-19 mortality rates.

Vitamin D prevents white blood cells from producing too many cytokines, proteins that activate our immune cells. Excess of these proteins leads to inflammation, which worsens the COVID-19 infection. So, it is important to ensure that your body’s vitamin D reserve is sufficient to prevent COVID-19 infection and complications.

How Much Vitamin D Should You Take?

Vitamin D is easily synthesized by our body when the skin gets exposed to sunlight. But as most people are spending maximum time indoors, vitamin D deficiency is becoming very common today.

The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is the most accurate way to monitor vitamin D levels in your body. Based on the amount of 25(OH)D in your blood, it is considered:

• Sufficient: 25(OH)D greater than 20 ng/ml
• Insufficient: 25(OH)D less than 20 ng/ml
• Deficient: 25(OH)D less than 12 ng/ml

To maintain sufficient blood levels, the recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 400–800 international units per day (IU/day), or 10–20 micrograms. However, some studies suggest a higher daily intake of 1000–4000 IU (25–100 micrograms) for optimal blood levels (above 30 ng/ml).

Wondering how to increase your vitamin D intake? Get some sunlight, eat foods that contain vitamin D (fatty fish like salmon, fish liver oils, egg yolks, fortified foods) or take supplements.

Published : September 7, 2020 10:13 pm | Updated:September 7, 2020 10:28 pm