Strengthening the bones and the immune system – protection against COVID-19? – Naturopathy & naturopathic specialist portal

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Vitamin D Deficient is widespread in this country. This can have significant effects, particularly on bone health. There are also indications that this deficiency could have negative effects on COVID-19 diseases.

Use the remaining summer time

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), around 56 percent of the population in Germany is insufficiently supplied with vitamin D. Like the Bavarian Consumer Service in one Message explains, children (from one year), adolescents and adults need a daily vitamin D intake of 20 µg.

However, the vitamin is only found in small amounts in food. The exceptions are especially fatty fish and liver, which are not often on our menu. Our daily vitamin D intake through food is therefore only 1 – 4 µg per day, which is far below the desired value of 20 µg.

However, humans are able to synthesize vitamin D in the skin through exposure to sunlight. “Use the remaining summer time to build up the necessary vitamin D reserves for the winter,” advises Gisela Horlemann, ecotrophologist at Consumer Service Bavaria in the KDFB eV (VSB).

In the warm season, the face and forearms should be exposed to the sun for around 15-30 minutes a day, if possible in stages, in order to prevent sunburn. This is the only way to achieve the desired vitamin D intake with appropriate sun exposure even without taking vitamin D supplements.

Because this vitamin is one of the fat-soluble vitamins, an excess is also stored in adipose tissue. It is therefore advisable to stock up on vitamin D in the sunny months for the sunnier times in winter.

Protection against bone diseases

One of the main tasks of vitamin D, which has long been known, is the regulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism, explains the Bavarian Consumer Service at its website. According to the experts, it increases the absorption of calcium in the intestine and improves the mineralization of the bones. Thus, this vitamin prevents diseases such as Rachitis and osteomalacia, that is, softening of the bones.

Vitamin D is also involved in other metabolic processes in the body and influences muscle strength. Furthermore, according to research results, a good vitamin D supply also lowers the risk of falls, broken bones, loss of mobility and premature death in older people.

Connection with corona diseases?

In addition, one of the tasks of vitamin D is to activate the cells of the immune system.

Whether there is a connection between COVID-19 disease and vitamin D supply has not yet been conclusively clarified, but researchers from Indonesia reported a few months ago increased risk of death from COVID-19 with vitamin D deficiency.

And also in a German study published in the specialist journal “NFS Journal“Has been released, evidence has been found that a Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of COVID-19 mortality.

In any case, it has been proven that the vitamin has a positive influence on general health. A good vitamin D status is therefore also helpful for all acute respiratory diseases.

Undersupply among the elderly

Unfortunately, the ability to produce vitamin D decreases with age, which often leads to an undersupply in older people. Even with bedridden patients and people with dark skin, the usual daylight is not enough.

It is important to know that a vitamin D-containing dietary supplement should only compensate for the deficit if an insufficient supply has been proven by a blood test and no improvement is achieved through the body’s own production.

However, the intake must be clarified by a doctor. Because constant overdosing of vitamin D preparations (over 100 micrograms per day) can cause side effects such as kidney stones and calcification of the kidneys. (ad)