Theres new evidence that getting enough vitamin D provides significant support in protecting hospitalized individuals infected with Covid-19 from adverse outcomes.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient needed for bones, muscles and teeth health.
It also helps in supporting lung function and cardiovascular health.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) analyzed data from 235 people who were admitted to the hospital with Covid-19. They found that patients older than 40 years old were 51.5 percent less likely to die from the infection if they had a sufficient level of Vitamin D, which they define as being at least 30 ng/mL.
According to the study, 74 percent of the patients had severe COVID-19 infection and 32.8 percent were vitamin D sufficient.
After adjusting for confounding factors, there was a significant association between vitamin D sufficiency and reduction in clinical severity, it said.
It added that also, the severity of COVID-19 infection in patients with vitamin D sufficiency was lower than other patients with higher levels of 25(OH)D.
The scientists advised people to take daily doses of vitamin D supplements especially during the cold season.
Therefore, it is recommended that improving vitamin D status in the general population and in particular hospitalized patients has a potential benefit in reducing the severity of morbidities and mortality associated with acquiring COVID-19, the study concluded.
Michael Holick, study author, explained: There is great concern that the combination of an influenza infection and a coronal viral infection could substantially increase hospitalisations and death due to complications from these viral infections.
Because vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is so widespread in children and adults in the US and worldwide, especially in the winter months, it is prudent for everyone to take a vitamin D supplement to reduce risk of being infected and having complications from Covid-19.
Food rich in vitamin D include dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, cereals, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, oatmeal, mackerel and salmon.
