Preliminary studies suggest higher Death rates from COVID-19 may be linked to vitamin D deficiency
Shocking scientific findings are now being made public about COVID- 19 and the possible link to vitamin D deficiency.
Studies suggest vitamin D deficiency is likely linked to COVID-19 Deaths.
Coronavirus deaths and infections seem to be higher in countries where individuals had lower vitamin D levels.
Italy and Spain has larger outbreaks compared to other counties where vitamin D levels were higher published research indicates.
Researchers from Northwestern University wrote “Our finding suggests that vitamin D may reduce COVID-19 severity by suppressing cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients”.
The study determined that severe COVID-19 cases among patients with severe vitamin deficiency increased the risk of death by 17.3 percent.
For patients with normal vitamin D level was 14.6 percent.
Researchers in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom say patients with abnormally active immune systems had a link between vitamin D levels and COVID-19.
Preliminary studies suggest higher mortality rates from COVID-19 may be linked to vitamin D deficiency
Researchers from Northwestern University wrote “Our finding suggests that vitamin D may reduce COVID-19 severity by suppressing cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients”.
What about the findings from The study?
This study shows that, counter intuitively, countries at lower latitude and typically sunny countries, such as Spain and Northern Italy, had low concentrations of vitamin D and high rates of vitamin D deficiency.
These countries also experienced the highest infection and death rates in Europe.
The northern latitude countries of Norway, Finland and Sweden, have higher vitamin D levels despite less UVB sunlight exposure, because supplementation and fortification of foods is more common.
These Nordic countries have lower COVID-19 infection and death rates.
The correlation between low vitamin D levels and death from COVID-19 is statistically significant.
The authors propose that, whereas optimising vitamin D levels will certainly benefit bone and muscle health, the data suggests that it is also likely to reduce serious COVID-19 complications.
“Our finding suggests that vitamin D may reduce COVID-19 severity by suppressing cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients”
-Researchers from Northwestern University
This may be because vitamin D is important in regulation and suppression of the inflammatory cytokine response, which causes the severe consequences of COVID-19 and ‘acute respiratory distress syndrome’ associated with ventilation and death.
Professor Rose Anne Kenny said, “In England, Scotland and Wales, public health bodies have revised recommendations since the COVID-19 outbreak.
Recommendations now state that all adults should take at least 400 IU vitamin D daily.
Whereas there are currently no results from randomised controlled trials to conclusively prove that vitamin D beneficially affects COVID-19 outcomes, there is strong circumstantial evidence of associations between vitamin D and the severity of COVID-19 responses, including death.”
“This study further confirms this association. We call on the Irish government to update guidelines as a matter of urgency and encourage all adults to take supplements during the COVID-19 crisis.
Deficiency is frequent in Ireland. Deficiency is most prevalent with age, obesity, in men, in ethnic minorities, in people with diabetes, hypertension and in nursing homes.”
“Here we see observational evidence of a link of vitamin D with mortality. Optimizing vitamin D intake to public health guidelines will certainly have benefits for overall health and support immune function.” Dr. Eamon Laird added.
We need further research to have concrete evidence on the level of vitamin D that is needed for ideal immune function. This is still exploratory and people are eager to know the results.
Studies like this really shed light on how low our vitamin D levels are in the world. Even in sunny countries.
It reminds us that we may need to reexamine how we increase in our vitamin D levels in the body. Either naturally or by way of dietary supplements.