Health Hotline Magazine | February 2022

NUTRITIONBYTES By Aryn Doll Research Continues to Reveal the IMPORTANCE OF OPTIMAL VITAMIN D LEVELS IN COVID 19

The latest research continues to highlight the importance of vitamin D levels and risk of COVID-19 infection and disease severity. In a study published in August 2021, researchers in India looked at vitamin D status and symptom severity in 156 COVID-19 positive individuals. Patients were placed into

COVID-19 patients hospitalized with mild and severe cases. Results revealed that 84 percent of patients had vitamin D deficiency (in this case <20ng/mL). Comorbid conditions were also more prevalent among infected individuals, with 67 percent having cardiovascular disease, hypertension,

di erent groups based on the amount of respiratory distress they were experiencing (mild, moderate, and severe) and their vitamin D levels (optimal ≥25ng/ mL, mild to moderate deficiency 10-24ng/mL, or severe deficiency <10ng/mL). In comparing the

and/or diabetes. Their analysis also indicated that vitamin D deficiency made individuals three times as likely to become infected with COVID-19 compared to healthy controls.

"...vitamin D deficiency made individuals three times as likely to become infected with COVID-19 compared to healthy controls."

Vitamin D is known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and immune modulatory e ects, and while its exact role is still being investigated in COVID-19, a recent computer simulation study suggested that vitamin D may work to inhibit replication and expansion of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Together, this research adds to mounting evidence that maintaining optimal vitamin D levels (ideally ≥ 30ng/mL) is important for supporting healthy immunity and for preventing and reducing the severity of respiratory infections, including COVID-19.

groups, they discovered that as vitamin D status worsened, there was a greater likelihood of more severe symptoms and respiratory distress. The study authors concluded, “Vitamin D status appears to be strongly associated with COVID-19 clinical severity. After COVID-19 confirmation, vitamin D level should be measured in all patients…” Similar findings were observed in a July 2021 study published in the Archives of Microbiology . Researchers obtained blood samples to test vitamin D levels in 191

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