Vitamin D Deficiency Linked With Increased COVID-19 Severity and Mortality

[VikLevaPatel]

Studies have demonstrated a potential link between low vitamin D levels and both an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and poorer clinical outcomes. Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, pre-infection deficiency of vitamin D was associated with increased disease severity and mortality.

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked With Increased COVID-19 Severity and Mortality

Joint Bar-Ilan University, Galilee Medical Center study affirms that sufficient vitamin D levels may positively influence the outcome of infection.

Vitamin D is most often recognized for its role in bone health, but low levels of the supplement have been associated with a range of autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases. Early on in the pandemic health officials began to encourage people to take vitamin D, as it plays a role in promoting immune response and could protect against COVID-19. In a study published on February 3, 2022, in the journal PLOS ONE researchers from the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University in Safed, Israel and the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, Israel show a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity and mortality.

“Our results suggest that it is advisable to maintain normal levels of vitamin D. This will be beneficial to those who contract the virus,” says Dr. Amiel Dror, of the Galilee Medical Center and Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of Bar-Ilan University, who led the study. “There is a clear consensus for vitamin D supplementation on a regular basis as advised by local health authorities as well as global health organizations.” Dr. Amir Bashkin, an Endocrinologist who participated in the current study, adds that “This is especially true for the COVID-19 pandemic when adequate vitamin D has an added benefit for the proper immune response to respiratory illness.”

Reference: “Pre-infection 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and association with severity of COVID-19 illness” by Amiel A. Dror, Nicole Morozov, Amani Daoud, Yoav Namir, Orly Yakir, Yair Shachar, Mark Lifshitz, Ella Segal, Lior Fisher, Matti Mizrachi, Netanel Eisenbach, Doaa Rayan, Maayan Gruber, Amir Bashkin, Edward Kaykov, Masad Barhoum, Michael Edelstein and Eyal Sela, 3 February 2022, PLOS ONE.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263069
MedRxiv

The body produces vitamin D when the skin is exposed to the sun. Vitamin D deficiency is a candidate risk factor for a range of adverse health outcomes.

Bone mineral density is the amount of bone mineral in bone tissue. High bone mineral density means stronger bones and a lower risk of fractures and osteoporosis.

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Vitamin D is essential for the body. Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because it's produced by the skin when it’s exposed to sunlight. It helps to maintain strong bones, healthy teeth, and may also protect against an array of diseases such as type 1 diabetes. While vitamin D is not present in many foods we eat, our bodies naturally produce it as a response to sun exposure, giving vitamin D the nickname “sunshine vitamin”. Produced vitamin D is further processed by the body in a series of chemical reactions. One of these reactions turns vitamin D into 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), which is commonly measured as an indicator of vitamin D levels in the body.

Vitamin D helps ensure that the body absorbs and retains the minerals calcium and phosphorus, which are important for building strong bones. In this study, researchers aimed to understand the genetic determinants of vitamin D level by conducting a genome-wide association study of ~400,000 individuals of European ancestry.

https://nebula.org/free-dna-upload-analysis/

[Ellethwyn]

I just happened to find out my vit D was disturbingly low just two months before stupid covid came into the world. Perfect timing. I got my vit D up just in time. It's odd how low mine was since i spend every day outside in the summer for at least 4 hours in the sunshine. I take it everyday now.