There is no preventative medicine or cure for the coronavirus or COVID-19, but there is some research that suggests adequate levels of Vitamin D are associated with less severe symptoms of the disease. Vitamin D is an immunomodulatory hormone that is required for certain steps in your body’s immune response to fight viruses. We primarily get Vitamin D through sun exposure, but there are a long list of things that inhibit this process including the amount of time in the sun, color of skin, location, climate, etc. Most adults in the Pacific Northwest are Vitamin D deficient.
A study out of Chicago suggests that people with low levels of Vitamin D were 77% more likely to test positive for coronavirus. Another study out of Israel suggests that low levels of Vitamin D were 45% more likely to test positive for coronavirus and 95% more likely to be hospitalized for it. More studies out of the U.K., Germany, Italy, the US, and more suggest the same result - the level of Vitamin D may correspond to the severity of symptoms, the risk of hospitalization, and the risk of death (Cooperman).
This doesn’t mean that you sure start taking high doses of Vitamin D - high doses can cause serious side effects and may interact negatively with certain drugs. It does, however, mean that you should have a conversation with your doctor about your Vitamin D levels, the supplemental dosage you should take, and whether or not any other supplements may be beneficial for your individual health.
Supporting your immune system with supplements, maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask when indoors and when social distancing is not possible, washing hands regularly, and staying isolated when sick will all help to reduce your chance of contracting this disease and spreading it throughout your community. Please do your part to keep all of us safe and healthy this holiday season.
Resources:
Cooperman, Todd, M.D. ”Vitamin D Supplements Review (Including Calcium, Vitamin K, Magnesium, and Boron). Consumer Lab. Initially Posted 11/23/2019. Updated 10/27/2020. www.consumerlab.com/reviews/vitamin-d-supplements-review/vitamin-d/#annweiler Accessed 11/3/2020