Vitamin D Helps Combat the Covid-19 Coronavirus
An article in the Lancet describes that vitamin D helps combat the Covid-19 coronavirus. A publication in the Lancet (diabetes and endocrinology) on Aug. 3, 2020, reviewed randomized controlled trials between 2007 and 2020. The authors of the study wanted to see whether vitamin D had curative effects on Covid-19 coronavirus infections. Indeed, Dr. Adrian R Martineau and Dr. Nita G Forouhi pointed out that researchers examined vitamin D already in the 1930s. In other words, at that time, they showed that supplementation with cod liver oil prevented absenteeism in various industries. Notably, the active ingredient in cod liver oil was later vitamin D. Vitamin D stimulates the immune system to overcome flu infections.
How Vitamin D overcomes Covid-19
The meta-analysis by Dr. Adrian R Martineau and Dr. Nita G Forouhi showed that vitamin D has several effects on Covid-19. In the early stages, vitamin D stimulates host responses of the immune system against SARS-CoV-2 (= Covid-19 coronavirus). This involves releasing antimicrobial peptides, which have powerful antiviral effects making it more difficult for the virus to attack. Other publications showed that vitamin D stimulates autophagy, the process of “self-eating.” Cells that have been damaged by the virus or due to older age are removed by phagocytizing cells (monocytes, macrophages). This allows for new cells to take the place of the damaged cells.
Symptoms of Covid-19 are similar to the symptoms associated with vitamin D deficiency. Certain population groups are at a bigger risk, including older persons, obese individuals, and persons of Black ethnic or Asian ethnic background. Several studies showed that supplementation with vitamin D3 became protective, preventative, and therapeutic against Covid-19.
Vitamin D has specific effects.
There are three major effects that vitamin D has.
- A strengthening of the epithelial barrier not allowing the coronavirus to penetrate the lung tissue as easily.
- Release of defensins and cathelicidin, two crucial antiviral polypeptides that eradicate any virus in the system.
- Interruption of the “cytokine storm,” which is responsible for viral pneumonia to develop. Without the cytokine storm, there is no lung damage, and people do not need treatment in the ICU. This is particularly important for people above the age of 60 and people with pre-existing diseases.
- With the stabilizing effect of vitamin D regarding the immune function, more severe forms of Covid-19 can turn into less severe forms with a better outcome. This is why ICU admissions fall when patients are treated with higher doses of vitamin D3.
Severe Covid-19 cases and vitamin D blood levels
Two studies have indicated that low vitamin D blood levels have a strong association with severe cases of Covid-19. Deficient vitamin D blood levels were found in severe Covid-19 cases in Spain, Italy, and Switzerland...
The authors concluded that any case of Covid-19 should receive adequate vitamin D3, but it is essential to severe cases.
Two facts evolved from these studies: first, with low vitamin D blood levels, there is a greater susceptibility to getting Covid-19. Secondly, Covid-19 severity increases when the patient has low vitamin D blood levels.
What are levels of vitamin D in the blood required to fight Covid-19 coronavirus?
Vitamin D is essential for the integrity of the immune system. With vitamin D blood levels below 15 to 20 ng/mL (37.5–50 nmol/L), the immune system has paralysis. Any viral or bacterial infection tends to overwhelm the body. This is why the mortality due to Covid-19 coronavirus is highest in patients with these low vitamin D blood levels. People with secondary illnesses (diabetes, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, cancer) and patients above 60 are at the highest risk. They have the lowest vitamin D blood levels and have the highest mortality rates. This publication describes this in more detail: Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths.
A patient's immune system is functioning normally above a vitamin D blood level of 30 ng/mL (=75 nmol/L). However, the immune system is strongest at a vitamin D blood level of 50–80 ng/mL (125–200 nmol/L), which is the upper range of the normal level for vitamin D in the blood.
Keep in mind that vitamin D toxicity occurs only above 150 ng/mL (375 nmol/L). There is a wide margin of safety between 80 ng/mL (200 nmol/L, which is the upper range of normal) and the toxic level, 150 ng/mL (375 nmol/L). In any case, it is important to have a blood test that gives information about the vitamin D3 blood level.
Conclusion
A new publication in the Lancet (diabetes and endocrinology) performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials between 2007 and 2020. The authors found that a low blood level of vitamin D predicts that these patients are in trouble. They will have a severe form of Covid-19 when they get exposed to the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Patients with higher normal vitamin D blood levels (50–80 ng/mL or 125–200 nmol/L) get very few symptoms of Covid-19 and have low mortality. The reason is that their immune system is strong, and they wall off the coronavirus at the epithelial barriers. Their immune system also releases polypeptides that eradicate the virus in the system. In addition, the “cytokine storm,” which is responsible for viral pneumonia, is interrupted by vitamin D. Without the cytokine storm, there is no damage to the lungs, and people do not need treatment in the ICU.
Supplementation with vitamin D3 is safe.
It is safe to supplement with vitamin D3 to bring the blood level into the upper range of normal. This keeps the immune system at its optimal functional level. There is a wide margin of safety between 80 ng/mL (=200 nmol/L, which is the upper range of normal) and the toxic level, 150 ng/mL (375 nmol/L).
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