Last month, I wrote about the studies that showed the importance of zinc and the correlation to individuals who have had Covid-19, and the severity of the disease in those individuals who are deficient in zinc. However, now another study has come out that shows even a stronger correlation between vitamin D deficiency and Covid-19.
In past blogs, I have written about vitamin D and its importance to our bodies. Vitamin D is a hormone that the kidneys produce. Vitamin D helps control blood calcium concentration and impacts the immune system. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a variety of health concerns, especially with regard to fighting infections. Vitamin D also helps keep inflammation under control.
The Spanish study found that 80% of the Covid-19 patients reviewed had vitamin D deficiency. Also, the Covid-19 patients with lower vitamin D levels also had raised serum levels of inflammatory markers such as ferritin and D-dimer. An earlier study found that the risk of Covid-19 infection in people with vitamin D deficiency was nearly two times higher than in people with sufficient levels of the vitamin. These researchers caution that these studies show that more research is needed, but they are optimistic about the benefits of vitamin D with regard to Covid-19.
In looking at the benefits of vitamin D, it may help to explain why vitamin D can reduce the Covid-19 risk. Vitamin D boots the immune system response to viruses and dampens the inflammatory response. Severe cases of Covid-19, are characterized by an excessive inflammatory response. In looking at a study performed in 2017, there was a conclusion that vitamin D supplements do reduce the risk of acute respiratory tract infections.
However, if you are taking a vitamin D supplement don’t take too much of it. Vitamin D can lead to a build up of calcium in your blood which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness and frequent urination. In addition, vitamin D toxicity can lead to bone pain and kidney problems. However, studies have also shown that many of us are plagued by vitamin D deficiency so to find out how much you need its always best to consult a doctor by getting blood work.
