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MUMBAI: There is growing evidence that vitamin D could help in the fight against Covid-19. Local doctors, and studies from other countries, say that adequate levels of the vitamin Sunshine, as it is called, could protect one against Covid or reduce its severity among infected patients.
A study published in the medical journal PLOS ONE by the Boston University School of Medicine showed that Covid-19 patients with a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 30 ng / ml (nanograms per milliliter) in their blood had a lower risk of low oxygen called hypoxia or death. These patients also had lower levels of inflammation and higher lymphocytes (a type of immune cell used to fight infection).
Dr. Shashank Joshi, a member of the state task force on Covid-19, said that most of the studies in the field of Covid are in research mode. “However, there is evidence from many European studies that vitamin D helps Covid-19 patients,” he said.
Vitamin D is recommended for patients with various conditions, from arthritis to tuberculosis. “There is already evidence that vitamin D helps reduce the severity of respiratory infections, including pneumonia,” said Dr. Joshi. However, he said before announcing that vitamin D helps against Covid-19, prospective, randomized studies need to be conducted to test the assumption. “At present, most of the studies are retrospective studies conducted among patients admitted to hospitals,” he added.
The Boston study looked at 235 patients admitted for care. In patients older than 40 years, doctors found that those with sufficient levels of vitamin D were 51.5% less likely to die than those who were deficient with a blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D of less than 30 ng / ml.
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A study published in the medical journal PLOS ONE by the Boston University School of Medicine showed that Covid-19 patients with a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 30 ng / ml (nanograms per milliliter) in their blood had a lower risk of low oxygen called hypoxia or death. These patients also had lower levels of inflammation and higher lymphocytes (a type of immune cell used to fight infection).
Dr. Shashank Joshi, a member of the state task force on Covid-19, said that most of the studies in the field of Covid are in research mode. “However, there is evidence from many European studies that vitamin D helps Covid-19 patients,” he said.
Vitamin D is recommended for patients with various conditions, from arthritis to tuberculosis. “There is already evidence that vitamin D helps reduce the severity of respiratory infections, including pneumonia,” said Dr. Joshi. However, he said before announcing that vitamin D helps against Covid-19, prospective, randomized studies need to be conducted to test the assumption. “At present, most of the studies are retrospective studies conducted among patients admitted to hospitals,” he added.
The Boston study looked at 235 patients admitted for care. In patients older than 40 years, doctors found that those with sufficient levels of vitamin D were 51.5% less likely to die than those who were deficient with a blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D of less than 30 ng / ml.
“This study provides direct evidence that vitamin D sufficiency can reduce complications, including cytokine storm (releasing too much protein into the blood too quickly) and ultimately death from Covid-19,” said the lead study author Michael F Holick in a press release. Recently, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, “If you are deficient in vitamin D, that has an impact on your susceptibility to infections.” He said he takes vitamin D supplements.
The state’s treatment protocol includes vitamin C and zinc supplements for Covid patients. Many private sector physicians also prescribe mega doses of vitamin D to hospitalized patients.
