The level of vitamin D in the body is associated with the risk of death fromcoronavirus, British experts believe. The exact mechanisms are still unclear, but the researchers hope that taking vitamin D supplements will increase survival with COVID-19.
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Vitamin D can play an important role in preventing death from SARS-COV-2 coronavirus, researchers from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation and East Anglia University say. They talked about this in an article published on the Research Square preprint service.
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The main function of vitamin D is to ensure the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from foods in the small intestine. Countries with low insolation (exposure to direct sunlight), including Russia, doctors and scientists are at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
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The researchers analyzed data on 20 countries, including Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, published in 2019, and then compared them with the proportion of deaths from COVID-19. It turned out that the higher the vitamin D deficiency in the population, the greater the proportion of deaths.
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“The most vulnerable population for COVID-19 is the one with the highest vitamin D deficiency,” the researchers said.
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Vitamin D deficiency depended little on the location of the country. So, in Iceland, a third of the surveyed had a level lower than 50 nmol / l, which indicated an insufficient amount. In Switzerland, there were more than half. Almost universal insufficiency was observed in Poland and Estonia. However, things were also best in the northern countries – in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Also, a pronounced lack of consumption was observed in Greece, Spain, Italy. However, not all data was fresh and some reflected statistics from past decades that could change.
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Russia turned out to be one of the countries with the most noticeable deficiency in vitamin D intake – in some populations, especially among elderly patients, a pronounced deficiency (less than 30 nmol / l) was observed in more than half of cases.
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Such results are not surprising, the researchers note – earlier work has shown that normal levels of vitamin D (50–125 nmol / L) reduce the risk of respiratory diseases, including influenza and tuberculosis.
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The lowest levels of vitamin D are observed in older people who are already at risk. Researchers suggest they take vitamin D supplements to increase their levels in the body and possibly reduce their risks.
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However, about causal scientists haven’t talked about connections yet – it’s just a correlation. Perhaps there are other factors that are simultaneously related to both the level of vitamin D in the body and resistance to coronavirus. This relationship has yet to be explored.
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In addition, not all experts agree with the benefits of taking dietary supplements.
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“Vitamin D is a hot topic debating the pros and cons of the widespread availability of nutritional supplements,” said researchers Mark Bolland of the University of Auckland in New Zealand and Alison Avenell of the University of Aberdeen in the UK. The results of works devoted to certain vitamins may look promising, however, in reality, taking supplements rarely becomes a panacea and can be recommended without taking into account individual needs, they explain. In order to talk about the unconditional benefits of a particular supplement, randomized placebo-controlled research.
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To help the immune system more effectively fight coronavirus, you can also use a balanced diet, say experts from the University of Southampton.
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A diet including vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, meat, fish and dairy products provides the body with vitamins, minerals and other substances important for the full functioning of the immune system, they explain.
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Researchers explain: vitamins and minerals are necessary for the synthesis and maintenance of antimicrobial protein activity, cell differentiation, and phagocytic activity.
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They are also important for supporting the functioning of lymphocytes, the production of cytokines and antibodies.
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Although a balanced diet solves many problems, in practice, not everyone can adhere to it, even in developed countries. Most often, a lack of vitamins A, C, D, and E, magnesium and zinc is observed in the diet. Older people lack vitamin B6, women lack folate, iron, and copper. The lack of certain vitamins and minerals depends on the region and social group, but is present almost everywhere.
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Therefore, in addition to proper nutrition, the researchers still recommend considering the possibility of taking dietary supplements. Of course, the intake of vitamins and minerals should not exceed the upper threshold of the norm.
