Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Lower the Risk of COVID-19

Highlights:

Vitamin D supplementation in adults does not offer protection from respiratory tract infections or COVID-19
Immunization remains the most reliable method of preventing COVID-19 infection.

Increasing vitamin D levels in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic was not linked to protection from respiratory tract infections or SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to two sizable clinical trials published in The BMJ.

Health Benefits of Vitamin D

Studies have suggested that vitamin D may protect against respiratory tract infections, especially in people who are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D metabolites enhance innate immune responses to respiratory viruses and bacteria.

Sunlight: An Important Source of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin necessary for the development of bones. Sunlight helps the body to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency results in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

‘Adults who take vitamin D supplements do not have protection from COVID-19 or other acute respiratory infections.’

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As a result, vitamin D has drawn a lot of interest because of its ability to prevent and treat COVID-19. But most studies are observational and have produced conflicting findings.

The first trial, which recruited 6,200 adults (16 years and older) who were not taking vitamin D supplements at the time of enrollment, was conducted in the UK between December 2020 and June 2021.

A vitamin D blood test was made available to half of the participants (3,100). People with low levels (2,674; 86%) were given either 3200 IU/day or 800 IU/day of vitamin D supplements for six months. The other half (controls) got neither a test nor pills.

Link between Statins and Vitamin D
Statins, the cholesterol-lowering medications, and vitamin D appear to complement each other’s effects.

Over a six-month follow-up period, neither vitamin D dose impacted the number of identified acute respiratory tract infections or COVID-19 cases. No significant adverse event was linked to study supplements, and the number of adverse events was comparable among groups.

The second trial, which used cod liver oil and had low levels of vitamin D and A and omega-3 fatty acids, was conducted in Norway between November 2020 and June 2021.

Vitamin D Deficiency - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Vitamin D the sunshine vitamin is essential for strong bones. Vitamin D deficiency is reportedly increasing worldwide and cause bone pain and muscle weakness.

About 34,741 adults (18-75 years old) who did not use vitamin D supplements were given 5 mL of cod liver oil or 5 mL of corn oil as a placebo every day for six months. Most subjects (86%) who underwent testing began the trial with sufficient vitamin D levels.

Once more, when compared to a placebo, the researchers discovered no difference between cod liver oil and acute respiratory infections or PCR-confirmed COVID-19. Only mild adverse effects, compared to the placebo group, were experienced by the cod liver oil group.

Medical Management of Vitamin Deficiencies
Vitamins are essential for our body to grow and develop normally. Vitamin deficiencies are widespread. Understand the role of dietary sources in vitamin deficiency prevention.

The results should be evaluated further because both studies used a highly efficient vaccine.

Does Vitamin D Protect Against COVID-19?

Despite this, both studies had several advantages, such as excellent levels of participant compliance and the use of RT-PCR swab tests to confirm infections. The findings support other studies that demonstrated no protective impact of vitamin D on the risk of COVID-19.

Vitamin D supplements do not appear to lower the incidence of COVID-19 or other acute respiratory infections.

In a related editorial, Professor Peter Bergman of the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden suggested that immunization remains the most reliable method of preventing COVID-19 infection. Vitamin D and cod liver oil supplements should not be given to healthy individuals with normal vitamin D levels.

Instead, he advises that clinicians must concentrate on high-risk populations, such as those with dark skin or skin that gets little sun exposure, pregnant women and older people with chronic conditions.

Source-Medindia